Davao mayor reaffirms opposition to coal power plant

Sunstar Davao 

DAVAO CITY -- Mayor Sara Duterte reiterated her firm opposition to the construction of a coal-fired power plant here.

But she said she would not object if the City Council favors the said project. "No. But if all of them 26 in the City Council will favorably endorse the coal plant, then I would not object," Duterte said.

The Aboitiz Group, which has 34 percent share of the Steag State Power Inc., has invited City Council members to visit Steag's 232-megawatt (MW) coal-fired power plant in Misamis Oriental province as requested by the mayor.

"It told the Aboitiz that I am not an expert for me to know the correct or wrong practices in running a coal plant, so it's pointless for me to roam around there not knowing about their operation," Duterte said.

Some councilors visited the coal plant on January 12, said Duterte. The second batch of councilors is set to visit the power plant on January 21.

Some of those who made an ocular visit are Councilors Emmanuel Galicia, Marissa Salvador-Abella, Victorio Advincula Jr., Conrado Baluran, Jo Anne Bonguyan, Louie John Bonguyan, April Marie Dayap, Jimmy Dureza, Pilar Braga, Rachel Zozobrado, and Alryan Alejandre.

She said she hopes the City Council members will use their observations from their trip to the coal plant in conducting public consultations.

"The Aboitiz knows that all they need is the City Council's endorsement. Since representatives for each district have been chosen, then let's see them conduct public consultations," Duterte said in vernacular.

Nelson Cabangon, corporate affairs head of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines, once said a power crisis is imminent, especially in Mindanao.

Cabangon added that construction of power plants could address the problem but not immediately as needed.

Meanwhile, Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte reaffirmed his support to a coal plant here as he has already made a visit in the Steag plant.

Vice Mayor Duterte earlier reasoned that the city needs electricity supply for it to maintain its economic growth.

"They're using advanced technology. You wouldn't see smoke coming out of it," the vice mayor also said in a television interview recently. (Jade C. Zaldivar/Sun.Star Davao/Sunnex)

Published in the Sun.Star Davao newspaper on January 16, 2011.