Naga plant promises to contain coal dust

CEBU, Philippines - Representatives from the Korean-Salcon Power Corporation (KSPC) in a multi-tripartite monitoring team held at the Naga City Hall has assured that long-term mitigating measures will be put in place by the end of this month.

Reinerio Lastimoso, KSPC's spokesperson, said his company has been working on the measures in compliance with orders issued by the city government and Governor Gwendolyn Garcia.

Garcia earlier ordered the firm to build a permanent structure surrounding the plant after residents in the area complained about dirty coal dust that fly in the air during the transfer of coal from the conveyor to the coal yard.

Last month, Mayor Valdemar Chiong issued a cease and desist order to stop the plant's coal transfer activity.

This was however lifted shortly after KSPC assured that there would be no more dust emissions in any of its operation.

Yesterday, residents of barangay North Poblacion, immediate neighbor of the plant, said they no longer see dark dust in the air after KSPC put up a canvass enclosing the area to serve as temporary windbreaker.

By the end of this month however, Lastimoso said the whole property will be enclosed with a fence about 10 meters high and a net as roofing to ensure that dust is confined within the area.

Also, the planting of Indian trees around the area has been started, the leaves to serve as windbreaker.

The MMT meeting, presided by the DENR, is done quarterly to monitor KSPC's activities.