Bu-lat-lat (boo-lat-lat) verb: to search, probe, investigate, inquire; to unearth facts Volume III, Number 43 November 30 - December 6, 2003 Quezon City, Philippines |
A
Choice Between Power and Life Because
it will use toxic technology that has caused deaths, asthma and other
respiratory ailments in many countries, the Korean coal-fired power plant
project set to be built in Banate, Iloilo is the target of a coming House
resolution seeking to scrap it. But the project is backed by President Macapagal-Arroyo who said that those opposed to it would be blamed for any power
shortage in Western Visayas. By
Karl G. Ombion and
Edgar Cadagat
Deduro
said President Macapagal-Arroyo supported the project and has warned that those
bucking the project would be blamed for any power shortage in the region. But
the congressman said Macapagal-Arroyo is lying because there are already plans
for the transfer of the 110 MW Pinamucan Diesel Plant from Batangas to Dingle in
Panay. The
Leyte-Cebu-Negros-Panay transmission lines will also be upgraded from 75 MW to
150 MW or double its capacity, he said. Deduro
further slammed Macapagal-Arroyo for signing the contract with Kepco without any
public consultation. "Kepco
is an independent power producer, which means the consumers would once again be
burdened by additional fees like the Purchased Power Adjustment," he said.
The consumers should have been consulted first, he added. Dirty
technology Aside
from filing a resolution at the House to scrap the project, Deduro said he also
plans to have the project investigated as well as propose amendments to laws on
the coal technology development. "No
matter what they say, a study by U.S. Congress study shows that there are no
technologies available yet to remove mercury from the waste stream," he
said. Burning
coal - especially when wastes are not properly disposed of - entails the burning
of other heavy metals like mercury and arsenic. "These
have toxic effects on the surrounding water sources, affecting livelihood of the
people near the area," Deduro said. He
said that a 25-year-old coal plant in Illinois was linked to 300 deaths per year
and 13,900 asthma attacks and 500,000 upper respiratory diseases. "The
construction of the coal-fired plant is also a violation of the Philippine Clean
Air Act of 1999, which upholds the right of every citizen to breath clean
air," he said. Also against the coal-fired power plant are the Madyaas Ecological Movement and the People's Response for the Protection of the Environment, among other, Deduro also revealed. Bulatlat.com / Cobra-Ans We want to know what you think of this article.
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