Aboitiz remains optimistic coal plant to push through

Sunstar Davao

AFTER getting the endorsement from three out of the four local government units most directly involved in its proposed 300-megawatt (MW) circulating fluidized-bed coal-fired power plant, officials of Aboitiz Power Corp. are optimistic the project will push through.

Bobby Orig, AboitizPower first vice president for Mindanao Affairs, said the company was honored to have received the endorsements from the municipal council of Sta. Cruz and the resolution interposing no objection from the barangay councils of Inawayan and Binugao.

"We are glad we were able to convince the officials of Sta. Cruz and Barangays Inawayan and Binugao about clean coal technology and how modern technology can assure a clean, safe and reliable power plant operation," Orig said.

"We look forward to answering the questions and concerns of the Davao City Council as we continue to emphasize that this project will do more good than harm to the community and to Mindanao," he added.

The P25-billion project will be a built on a 52-hectare property straddling barangays Binugao and Inawayan, highlighting the importance of the support of the host communities.

The municipal council of Sta. Cruz in Davao del Sur unanimously passed its endorsement of the project last April 1. Barangay Binugao in Davao City passed its resolution interposing no objection last April 15 with only one objection of the eight members of the barangay council.

Last April 24, Barangay Inawayan in Sta. Cruz gave a unanimous nod days after conducting a public hearing which also resulted in an overwhelming approval of the community for the project.

The Davao City Council, in the meantime, held its last joint-committee level hearing last April 8. The committees reviewing the project are set to schedule a third hearing.

Orig said AboitizPower is ready to answer all questions regarding the project and the technology the company will be bringing to Davao.

"We always see public hearings as an opportunity for us to explain our project and to show that our technology is safe and clean. We are glad that so far we were able to convince public officials in Sta. Cruz, in Inawayan and in Binugao," Orig said. "But we would like to emphasize that the power shortage is upon us and we have to act quickly to be able to prevent a wider destructive effect of a massive power shortage."

Orig said AboitizPower will continue to work closely with the host communities who already approved the project.

"We will continue to coordinate and consult with the barangay officials and leaders of the community to find areas of cooperation and to ensure that the project will bring the utmost benefits to our communities," Orig said.

The Mindanao power situation is expected to be precarious once more as 2011 is in the summer months. The dry summer usually brings water level Lake Lanao down, affecting the generating capacity of the Agus-Pulangi hydropower complex - the lifeblood of Mindanao's power supply.

"We need to get the balanced mix of power from different sources so that even in the summer or during El Nino, Mindanao will have reliable power," Orig said.

Government estimates that the Mindanao power shortage is set to worsen and that by 2014, the shortage will be around 480 MW -- enough to cause rotating brownouts of up to six hours per day during the dry season and up to three hours per day during the rainy season for all power users in Mindanao.

"The Aboitiz group has been in Davao for more than 50 years already. The people of Davao know of Aboitiz and we have a track record of responsibility and integrity. We will not do something that will destroy the community where we live in," Orig said.

Published in the Sun.Star Davao newspaper on April 27, 2011.