The regional office of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) assured that their office will closely monitor DMCI”s proposed coal-fired power plant in Narra town upon to ensure it complied with the conditions set forth in the Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC).
This year, the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), one of the DENR’s line agencies, issued an ECC for the DMCI coal-fueled power project despite opposition from various groups and some local residents.
DENR Regional Executive Director Henry Adornado said that the establishment of more power plants is needed by a growing and developing province like Palawan.
He vowed that they will make sure that the ECC conditions are properly complied with in order to protect the environment and the people from potential environmental threats and health risk.
‘Ang development whether we like it or not ay darating yan dahil dumadami ang population. Development means sacrificing certain areas. On our part, we should look into and monitor the compliance of their management plan,” Adornado said.
He explained that the power plant project has been certified and is considered as Energy Project of National Significance, the reason why it was issued with ECC.
He explained that the power plant project has been certified and is considered as Energy Project of National Significance, the reason why it was issued with ECC.
“Na-deny na yan before pero ito ay na reverse because they appeal to the higher office. Hindi na kami ang concerned na ahensya dyan. Ito ay considered na Energy Project of National Significance. Hindi lang DOE o DENR ang involve na ahensya. Kami lang ang na highlight kasi kami lang ang nag-issue ng ECC,” he explained.
Cynthia Del Rosario, an active member of civil society group in Palawan, said that she was puzzled on why DMCI was issued with ECC considering the fact that it was turned down the fourth time because they will use low quality coal for their project.
“Itong coal project na ito ay pang-apat na beses ng na turn down. Why the DMCI coal plant was approved? Sa Coal ay dapat high quality coal, pero ito sourced out from our country ay low quality (coal) sya. Paano nakapasa ang coal ng Palawan,?” she asked.
Miguel S. De Vera, head of Strategic Initiatives, Legal and Regulatory Office of Energy Development Corporation (EDC), a renewable energy company, said that the toxic ash and mercury are considered as drawback of a coal power project.
He explained that the coal plant proponents need to store these toxic ash in a certain facility, and managing its wastes would be costly.
“It need a spacialized landfill to store all these ash. Coal power project become expensive due to the high cost of taking care for its toxic ash and mercury,” De Vera warned.