City Council to decide on coal plant in April

Sunstar Davao

DAVAO City Councilor Pilar Braga is hopeful the City Council will finally decide on the controversial coal-fired power plant project of the AboitizPower Corp. by last week of April.

The committee on energy, transportation, and communication conducted last week the first public hearing on the proposed project, where its proponents and oppositors were given the chance to voice out their arguments on the proposed coal plant, a P25 billion project, which will be established at the boundary of Barangay Binugao in Toril district, Davao City and Barangay Inawayan in Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur.

Braga said they will conduct one or two more hearings before they could come up with their decision.

"We still want to hear from everybody, we urged everyone to participate since the public hearing is open to all, so we can gather ideas," Braga said.

Several environmental groups, both here and abroad, have been opposing the proposed projects, citing its harmful effects not only to the environment, but to the health of the people living near the plant.

Greenpeace, an international environmental group during the first public hearing on the proposed coal-fired plant had presented the disadvantages of having a coal-fired power plant here.

Thomas Sliman, of Aboitiz business development, for his part, said the project is just like any other trade that follows standards.

He said the proposed coal-fired plant is not as environmentally and health risky as what others try to project, especially environmental groups opposing the project.

He said they will operate in a strict standard compliance practices to avoid harmful incidents from occurring. (JOP)

Published in the Sun.Star Davao newspaper on March 28, 2011.