SARANGANI, Philippines (1 June 2008) — Plans are reportedly under way for the construction of a coal-fired power plant near this town's popular diving spots. The town of Maasim was not included in the initial pronouncements of Alcantara-led Conal Holdings Corp. as one of the sites being considered to host the power plant. However, there are indications that the project may be implemented here after all, prompting local Church leaders to oppose the construction of the planned $350-million, 200-megawatt coal-fueled power plant. Joseph C. Nocos, the project's focal person, earlier said that they intend to construct the power plant at the Maitum municipality. The alternative sites are in Kiamba and a couple of sites in Davao del Sur province. Maitum and Kiamba are also in Sarangani province. However, various BusinessWorld sources confirmed the company has been conducting a series of soil stability tests in Tampuan, a village surrounded by the best diving spots in Sarangani province. Maasim is said to be a better choice over Maitum because of the former's soil stability, better infrastructure and support facilities, and proximity to General Santos City. In Maitum, the power plant project is also facing opposition from the residents. Mr. Nocos declined to answer when asked if the power station will rise in Maasim, which is about an hour's travel from General Santos. He, however, said that if ever the proposed power plant would be constructed in the area, it would be environmentally safe. "Our project will adhere to the country's environmental regulations as well as those of the World Bank which I'm sure are intended to safeguard our terrestrial, marine and aerial environments," he said. Mr. Nocos said they will soon officially announce the choice of the site for the power plant project. Chris Dearne, a British expatriate on top of an artificial reef dome project in Sarangani Bay, expressed opposition to the planned coal-powered station in this town. "You can build up the most modern power plant but coal will still create problems for the environment and I think that constructing such a plant on the edge of Sarangani Bay can only be bad news for the coral reefs which are some of the finest in the country," he said. Mr. Dearne, who hails from West Yorkshire, England, recalled growing up in an environment where power is generated using coal, which is considered as "the black gold." "All buildings in the area were black, caused by the constant black clouds from the smoke and soot belching from factory chimneys," he said. | | Dive operators and local residents have joined together in opposition to a plan to build a coal-fired power plant in Sarangani, a popular dive destination in the Philippines. "Laundry was difficult because once it was hung out to dry, it always picked up black spots of coal dust from the atmosphere. Children were always dirty as coal dust or soot covers the area, and chest complaints were chronic and led to death in many cases," he added. Saying there are new technologies now to address such problems, Mr. Dearne clarified he is not against the development of coal-fired power plant by Conal. "I am not against this plant but I believe that the location [Maasim] where the survey work is taking place is a poor choice environmentally." He feared the destruction of diving spots in this town will come if the coal gets wet and the runoff spills into the sea, spoiling the environment for years to come. Meanwhile, Father Romeo Q. Catedral, director of the Social Action Center of the Diocese of Marbel, said the Maasim parish is fortifying its opposition in case the company decides to put up the coal-fired power plant here. "There will be information awareness [on the evils] of the coal-fired power plant in the BCCs [Basic Christian Communities]. The local parish has started the legwork because we also hear the plant will be set up in Maasim," the priest said. |
