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[av_heading heading=’Will coal plant hurt Concepcion islands? ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY GLENDA SOLOGASTOA
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ILOILO – Concepcion, Iloilo’s Mayor Millard Villanueva dismissed the claim of environmentalists that the newly-inaugurated coal-fired power plant in his coastal municipality will adversely affect the environment, specifically the town’s many islands popular with tourists.
“For as long as the management of the power plant will comply with the requirements of the EMB (Environmental Management Bureau), the environment is protected,” Villanueva said.
President Rodrigo Duterte led the ceremonial switch-on of Palm Concepcion Power Corp.’s 135-megawatt circulating fluidized bed combustion plant in Malacañang on Monday.
The power plant is located in Barangay Nipa, Concepcion.
“Indi man na pagpasugtan kun it could degrade the environment,” said Villanueva.
The mayor said he formed a multipartite team to monitor the power plant’s operation and impact to Concepcion’s environment.
The team is composed of representatives from various sectors, including the provincial government and EMB.
The circulating fluidized bed combustion power plant is seen as a critical addition to the power generation industry in the Visayas.
President Duterte himself defended the Palm Concepcion power plant.
“Do not worry about pollution. It’s always there. It’s up to our mankind to innovate and come up with gadgets that would compensate all these things because we cannot abandon the sources of energy,” said the President.
The President said coal-fired electric power plants are needed for the country to entice more investors to put up businesses that would provide more jobs for more than 100 million Filipinos.
”Whatever is really working on fuel, we cannot really avoid…but you have to consider along the way in our course of civilization,” the President said.
“Coal, it’s the cheapest and probably, if we use the modern technology, it’s the safest. Just be careful with the operation,” he added.
Aside from stabilizing Visayas’ power supply, Mayor Villanueva said the coal plant will generate jobs for his constituents.
The plant’s construction alone was able to employ over 2,000 residents of Concepcion and neighboring towns, he said.
“More income will also be generated through the business tax, occupancy permit, building permit and real property tax,” added Villanueva.
The mayor said Palm Concepcion Power Corp. has an environmental program for the town – it committed to reforest 100 hectares to balance carbon emissions./PN
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