Study on coal-fired power plant, respiratory hazards link pushed
A study on the direct correlation of coal-fired power plant on respiratory ailments in affected barangays is being pushed by the Regional Interagency Committee on Environmental Health.
The proposed study was presented to the RIACEH by Mart Tayo, chief executive officer of the Citizens Iloilo Coalition Against Tuberculosis Inc., in their effort to generate baseline and impact data on the operation of the coal-fired power plant in Iloilo City.
Dr. Elvie Villalobos, Department of Health 6-RIACEH chairperson, said the proposal can be a breakthrough in determining the direct impact of pollutant dispersal within the areas affected by the operation.
Tayo said his group had earlier presented this study to the Global Business Power Corp. and the Panay Energy Development Corp. before these entities started their test firing of the coal plant.
“The study is of great benefit to the public,” Tayo said.
“In fact, the presence of a baseline data before the testing, could have prevented initial negative effects to have reached the public,” he added referring to the issues of odors and health hazards posed by the coal plant to its immediate vicinity.
The study seeks to determine the incidence and exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma in Iloilo City with the operation of a supposed-to-be clean coal technology, within a six-kilometer radius from the site.
It will test three major variables namely, flue emission, air pollutants in ambient air, and no. of cases of exacerbation of COPD and asthma, tracing baseline values from the period of four years prior to the operation and within four-year during the commercial operation of the power plant.
Tayo said had the study pushed through before the test firing of the coal-fired power plant, Iloilo and the Philippines on the whole, could have set the record of having done such study in the world, as far as coal-fired power operation is concerned.
“However, we still can do something to catch up. All we need now is a mandate from an institution so that we can undertake the study. This is important because if after five years the results of the study will reveal that there is no direct correlation on coal-fired power plant operation and some respiratory ailments, then we will be happy,” Tayo said.
Villalobos said the RIACEH, with the Iloilo City Council committee on environment under Councilor David Jamora, can study the proposal for the benefit of public health, which is at stake in the operation of the coal-fired power plant in Iloilo City.*PIA6
