BACOLOD City – The city council may consider pushing an ordinance declaring this city coal-free, said Councilor Cindy Rojas, chairperson of the Sangguniang Panlungsod committee on the environment.
A proposed provincial ordinance declaring the entire province of Negros Occidental coal-free is being advocated by Gov. Alfredo Maranon Jr. It prohibits the establishment of coal-fired power plants in the province.
”As of now, there’s no proposed city ordinance in relation to coal,” Rojas told the media. “But the city council may study it if we can possibly [pass a similar ordinance].”
With Bacolod City being a “highly urbanized city,” an ordinance passed by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan will not cover the city.
There are reports that San Miguel Corp. is eyeing to establish a coal-fired power plant at the boundary of barangays Palampas and Punao, San Carlos City, Negros Occidental.
Last month Marañon wrote the Sangguniang Panlalawigan asking for the passage of an ordinance declaring Negros Occidental a coal-free, clean-energy and environment-friendly province.
The ordinance seeks to disallow the exploration, establishment and operation of any coal-fired power plant in the province.
“We promise the people of Negros Occidental that the provincial government, its leaders, offices, and staff are and will be pursuing a no-to-any-coal-fired-power-plant-in-Negros-Occidental policy,” said the governor.
“Coal-fired power plants and other fossil fuels are scientifically proven to have serious and harmful impact on the environment and people’s health as well as livelihood,” he added.
Republic Act No. 8749 or the Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999 mandates the strict regulation of the operation of coal-fired power plants, recognizing the hazards they pose to the environment and to the health of the people.
Meanwhile, Central Negros Electric Cooperative general manager Sulpicio Lagarde Jr. said their company is prioritizing the need to supply power to the province, regardless of the technology to be used.
He said it is better for Negros Occidental to have its own power plant than have the power distribution companies buy power from Panay and Cebu./PN
