Government warned of acid rain

Greenpeace International warned the government yesterday that the continued operation of five coal-fired power plants in the country would cause "acid rainfall" in the future.

Testifying before the Senate committee on environmental and natural resources recently, Red Constantino, Greenpeace official for the Asia-Pacific region, said mercury being emitted by these plants will transform into gaseous substance which will ascend to the atmosphere.

The gaseous substance, he said, will descend in the form of acid rain.

"Mercury will transform into a gaseous substance and will be released to the atmosphere. (Acid rainfall is) strongly possible," he told the Senate panel chaired by Sen. Robert Jaworski.

The Senate has been investigating allegations that the 1,200-megawatt station in Sual, Pangasinan; the 440-MW plant in Mauban, Quezon; the 700-MW station in Pagbilao, Quezon; the 700-MW station in Oyon, Zambales; and the 600-MW plant in Calaca, Batangas have been emitting mercury and other chemicals harmful to the environment and the people.