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Cebu News

‘Environmentally harmful’: Council rejects Ludo coal plant

Jean Marvette A. Demecillo - The Freeman

CEBU, Philippines - Saying the project will be harmful to the environment, the Cebu City Council rejected yesterday the coal-fired thermal power plant proposed to be built in Barangay Sawang Calero.

The decision, in effect, was unanimous after councilors who have endorsed the project withdrew their endorsement.

"In view of the objection and the disapproval of the committee on environment, together with member Richie Osmeña, we humbly withdraw our resolution endorsing the installation of coal-fired power plant in Sawang Calero," said Councilor Noel Eleuterio Wenceslao.

The seven-page report of the council's committee on environment reads:

"Under current guidelines, a power plant capacity of 30 MW is considered environmentally critical. Therefore, the proposed Coal-Fired Thermal Power Plant by Ludo Power Corporation with a capacity of 300 MW is an Environmentally Critical Project (ECP) and poses significant environment impacts."

Committee head Councilor Nida Cabrera, vice chairperson Councilor Nestor Archival, and member councilors Margarita Osmeña and Alvin Dizon signed the report. Another member, Councilor Gerardo Carillo, who failed to sign the report before the session, said he will sign the document.

"After considering all the points raised on the proposed project, the committee interposes its objection to the construction of a 300-MW Coal-Fired Thermal Power Plant in Barangay Sawang Calero and therefore denies the request for a favorable endorsement," the report reads.

Reasons

The committee cited four grounds for its decision: lack of social acceptability, failure to submit the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study, proposed facility and site do not conform to the City's Zoning Ordinance, and power plants are allowed to operate in the Industrial-3 (I-3) Zone under the 2013-2014 Comprehensive Land Use Plan Guidebook of the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board.

On the first ground, Cabrera said the committee received a petition submitted by residents of Sawang Calero against the project and the position papers submitted by residents living near the area where the proposed project will be constructed.

"Social acceptability is defined as acceptability of a project by affected communities based on timely and informed participation in the EIA process particularly with regard to environmental impacts that are of concern to them," the report reads.

The residents claim that only a concrete wall separates them from the proposed power plant, which they said is far different from the conditions of other communities where power plant is located like in Sual, Pangasinan.

"While the proponent commits to adopt a state-of-the-art process in operating the proposed power plant , precaution tells us to err on the side of caution if only to ensure  the health and safety of our people and the environment from toxic risks," the report reads.

Cabrera said the committee has received resolutions from four barangays within the current Ludo facility, but the resolutions did not contain the minutes of consultations of the affected communities.

On Ludo's failure to submit the EIA, Cabrera said the council has full accountability to the people on the negative impacts of the project.

She said the EIA shall guide the committee in evaluating carefully the request for a favorable endorsement, adding, that the non-submission left the committee without a reference on whether or not the project would impact the environment significantly and whether measures to be undertaken can address these impacts.

Cabrera said the committee found out that the proposed facility and site does not conform to the city's Zoning Ordinance No. 1656 known as the "1996 Revised Zoning Ordinance of the City of Cebu."

She said the zoning ordinance states that power plants are allowed only in Medium or High Intensity (I-2) Districts, stressing that the proposed project's site belongs to the Low Intensity Industrial (I-1) District.

"While exceptions and variances on land uses may be allowed, granting exception to a coal-fired thermal power plant in a densely populated community presents a clear danger to the health of residents and the environment," the report reads.

Cabrera said the power plants are allowed to operate in the I-3 Zone under CLUP Guidebook of the HLURB.

HLURB is mandated under Executive Order No. 648 Series of 1981.

Under the CLUP guidebook, Barangay Sawang Calero where the proposed power plant will be built is an Industrial-1 Zone. It is considered as non-pollutive or non-hazardous such as drying fish and non-pollutive or non-hazardous such as manufacture of house furnishing and textile bag factories.

"On the other hand, power plants (thermal, hydro, or geothermal) are categorized by some updated CLUP guidebook as part of the pollutive or extremely hazardous industries that belong to the industrial-3 Zone,  a category which the City of Cebu doesn't have under its existing Zoning Ordinance," the report reads.

The City Council also requested EMB-DENR and Ludo Power Corporation to submit reports on the status and environmental compliance of the current 10-MW power plant inside the present Ludo facility in Barangay Sawang Calero.

Thoughts

Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella, the council's presiding officer, said the council will not give a favorable endorsement after it approved the committee report. Ludo, however, can seek for reconsideration.

He said Ludo needs to secure approval and recommendation from the city to be able to start processing permits like the ECC from DENR.

Meanwhile, Mayor Michael Rama said, he can only act on something if it reaches his level such as an ordinance approved by the council.

"I don't have to make a stand now because I'm the mayor. I will always wait for an ordinance. An ordinance will always be. As soon as it will reach my end, I will also have it legally assessed. But, if it not going to reach in my end, what is there for me to be pushing? What is there for me to be objected? Nothing to be objected if nothing being brought to my attention," he said.

After the session, residents in black shirts handed white flowers to members of the City Council.

Estrelita Capistrelas, 56, said she has lived in Sawang Calero for several years already.

"Nagkuyog gyod mi diri kay among gi-atngan ang resulta gyod ani nga project kay kami ang maapektohan ani," she said.

"Ganahan gyod kaayo ko. Nalipay gyod kaayo ko. Dili man gud maayo kay ang coal-fired power plant, dilikado man gud kaayo na, makadaot sa baga, magkasakit mi labi nami nga and bang ra kaayos lugar," she added.

Ludo's community relations officer Nelson Yuvallos, who was present at the session, declined to comment.

"No comment lang usa," he said.

Positions

The Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry is supporting the proposed project provided that Ludo complies with the relevant environmental laws, decrees, orders, and rules before, during and after the construction of the proposed coal-fired thermal power plant.

Philexport Cebu also expressed support to the project, citing the current expensive power cost as a dent to its members' competitiveness and welcoming the additional power to be generated under the project.

The other agencies that expressed their support are the City Health Department, as well as Barangays Sawang Calero, Duljo Fatima, Pahina San Nicolas, and Suba.

Oppositions came from residents in Sawang Calero and neighboring barangays, Health Care Without Harm, and Missionaries of the Poor, among others.

At least 5,000 residents from different barangays attended the public hearing last April 17.

Last Friday, Cabrera's committee consulted with different stakeholders and the Environmental Management Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources 7. Representatives from the Department of Health and Department of Energy were invited to the consultation but did not appear. — (FREEMAN)

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