by Catherine A. Santos, Philippine News Agency | Friday, 17 June 2016
Opposition to the proposed 15-megawatt circulating fluidized bed (CFB) coal-fired power plant continues in Palawan with the Environmental Legal Assistance Center (ELAC) submitting a position paper to the Environment Management Bureau (EMB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
The position paper was a result of an earlier public hearing in Narra town.
Lawyer Janssen Jontila said they sent the position paper on June 10 as stakeholders were encouraged to submit their position papers within 15 days of the hearing.
In its position paper, ELAC cited that coal-based technologies are unsuitable for the province, especially for the residents of Barangay Bato-Bato, Narra in southern Palawan.
ELAC said Palawan province has a unique status being a biodiversity conservation site.
ELAC said it strongly opposes the project saying coal is a harmful source of electricity and its establishment in Palawan will be contrary to the existing environmental management and conservation programs and policies.
The non-government organization positioned too, that there is no safe way to dispose the fly ash that would come from the coal power plant, adding that proponent DMCI Power Corporation (DPC) lacks the track record to effectively deal with the pollution that its proposed coal plant would pose against the health of residents and Palawan’s fragile ecology.
ELAC cited further that according to the Palawan Island Power Development Plan (PIPDP), coal power is not an inexpensive source of energy for the province’s goal of providing affordable power.
Jontila said their position paper recommends for the denial of the issuance of the environmental compliance certificate (ECC) to the DPC, and for Palawan to be consistent with the Strategic Environmental Plan Law or Republic Act 7611.
Anytime, the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Review Committee shall gather to decide if DPC deserves an ECC for the 15-megawatt proposed coal-fired power project. (PNA)
