Provincial Board environment committee to delve into Balili issue, ash waste dumpsite

CEBU, Philippines - Provincial Board member Victor Maambong, who heads the council’s committee on environment, assured yesterday that they will continue looking on closely the issue on the controversial purchase of the Balili property in Naga and the approval of a dumping site, for ash waste by an electric company, set to be operational in 2011.

Maambong said yesterday during the 888 News Forum that he assures of a public hearing on the matter since it is a concern of the people, as the site would reportedly do “great damage to the environment with coal ash having high toxicity that could affect the health of the residents.”

According to Maambong, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources should also be made to explain on the issuance of an Environmental Compliance Certificate and on the letter it sent in January 31, 2006 by then officer-in-charge Allan Arranguez to the Toledo Power Corporation.

The letter was read by Edecio Satina of the Cebu Energy Development Corporation who stated of DENR allowing them to proceed with their plans on a waste landfill on a private lot in Naga, after analysis of their Toxicity Characterization Leaching Procedures came out, which analyzes fly ash generation from their coal-fired power plant.

The letter read that, “based on the submitted result of the TCLP – certificate analysis dated September 2000, these have satisfied the waste acceptance criteria for landfill. Please be informed that your material is considered as industrial solid waste that does not contain prescribed hazardous wastes is considered as industrial solid waste that does not contain prescribed hazardous wastes…”

“Hence, you can proceed with your plan. Moreover, it can be exempted from the requirements for permit to transport and disposal in a facility per Republic Act 6969, or An Act to Control Toxic, Hazardous and Nuclear Wastes, and it can be disposed of in an identified private lot area without clearance from this office.”

Maambong, as well as environmental lawyers opposing the move, were shocked upon knowledge of the letter and said that they will also look into it after asking for a copy from Satina.

Vince Cinches of the Cebu Alliance for Renewable Energy said that DENR already stated how they are “agreeable to findings that toxicity is high in Naga as well as Toledo.”

Maambong also said that he will be writing to DENR regional executive director Leonardo Sibbaluca about all of the issues raised by the environmentalists. He will be presenting, as well, the findings after the investigations.

Lawyer Ben Cabrido of the Global Legal Action on Climate Change said yesterday on the “importance of prioritizing the health of the people over the need for energy through processes that could affect the environment.”

The Korea Electric Power Corporation-Salcon Power Corporation is a 200-megawatt plant set to be finished in 2011 as an answer to the power shortages in the Cebu province.

Satina of CEDC said that their company though will “remain proactive to ensure the balance between economics and the environment and has committed to adopt a cleaner system of producing electricity while being able to address the base load requirements of the province and the island.”

Also, the company added that “CEDC’s power plant shall adhere to paramount standards in ensuring that it does not contribute to water acidification and that Toledo’s waters remain resilient in the face of crises on energy, food supplies and financial systems.” – AJ de la Torre/MEEV (THE FREEMAN)