ELAC submits position paper to DENR opposing DMCI’s coal-fired power project in Narra

Jun 15, 2016 By Catherine Santos

http://palawan-news.com/elac-submits-position-paper-denr-opposing-dmcis-coal-fired-power-project-narra/

Palawan-based non-profit group Environmental Legal Assistance Center (ELAC) has submitted to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Environment Management Bureau (DENR-EMB) MIMAROPA on Friday, June 10, their position paper opposing DMCI Power Corporation’s (DPC) proposed  Coal-fired Power Plant in Bato-Bato, Narra, Palawan.

The submission is in response to DENR-EMB’s encouragement for all concerned stakeholders to submit position papers following the public hearing held on May 28, 2016.

Based on the submitted position paper, ELAC believes that coal-based technologies are inappropriate for the province in light of Palawan’s unique status as a biodiversity conservation site.

Specifically, ELAC presented the following grounds on why they are not in favor of the project, as lifted directly from the paper: 1) Coal is the dirtiest source of electric power and the establishment of coal power plants in Palawan contravenes existing environmental management and conservation programs and policies; 2) There is no safe way to dispose coal fly ash and DMCI has no track record showing its capacity to deal with this pollution problem and other environmental risks; 3) The power plant will be situated in an ecologically sensitive area; and 4) Based on the Palawan Island Power Development Plan or PIPDP, coal power is not the cheapest source of energy for the province.

ELAC recommends the denial of an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) to DPC for the said project. They also urged stakeholders to take a stand consistent with the SEP Law, PIPDP and other existing government environmental management policies and programs, which should essentially reject the establishment of the coal fired power plant.

It is expected that anytime soon the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Review committee will convene to study all the submitted documents and the regional office will eventually decide whether or not to issue an ECC for the said proposed project.

Meanwhile, DENR-EMB MIMAROPA Regional Director Allan Leuterio shared to Palawan News that he has yet to see any documents submitted by the proponent regarding the said coal-fired power plant project.