By Jereco O. Paloma
DAVAO CITY -- AboitizPower Corp., the proponent of a P25-billion coal-fired power plant here, warned anew of the worsening power situation in Mindanao even as environmental groups questioned the shortage's validity.
In Friday's final hearing of the City Council on the proposed 300-megawatt (MW) power plant, Aboitiz first vice president for Mindanao Manuel Orig said that since 2009, power shortage had increased significantly.
He said a third party study conducted by an international researcher shows an impending and present power shortage that is higher than what the Aboitiz had projected.
"Makita dyud namo na dili na makaya sa power supply ang power demand (It really shows the power supply cannot meet the demand)," Orig said.
However, Julan Suazo of the Foundation for Philippine Environment questioned the veracity of Aboitiz' findings, saying there have been no concrete data validating the power firm's claims of power shortage.
Suazo dared the City Council to come up with a decision free from bias and possible manipulation on the Aboitiz-proposed coal power plant.
City Councilor Rene Elias Lopez also questioned the existence of energy crisis in Mindanao.
Lopez said more in-depth studies should be conducted to assess the actual power shortage and have a clearer picture of the actual power status of the city and other Mindanao areas.
After Friday's third public hearing, the four committees handling Aboitiz's proposal will submit a joint recommendation to the City Council that will decide on the fate of the multibillion power plant.
Also on Friday, Network Opposed (NO) to Coal-Davao, along with residents of Binugao and fisherfolk of Barangay Sirawan, filed before the Davao City Council a proposal for alternative renewable energy sources to counter the Aboitiz-proposed coal-fired power plant.
In a statement, No to Coal cited the viability of renewable energy sources especially solar, wind, biomass and hydropower.
"There is a rich source of data and experiences that community-managed energy sources that can solve the projected energy shortfall used by Aboitiz to justify the construction of the dirtiest and deadliest source of energy here in Davao," said Dr. Jean Lindo, co-convener of No to Coal-Davao.
"We are presenting the local government resources that it can tap and develop. Now it's the LGU's (local government unit's) turn to do its part, to make these renewable energy sources materialize for Davao, for Mindanao so that we and our children will not have to suffer from coal," she added.
The group said various studies cite the Philippines to have high potential for wind energy.
She said the United States New and Renewable Energy Laboratory (US-NREL) in 1999 said that over 10,000 square kilometer of windy land areas estimated to exist with a good-to-excellent wind resource potential.
"Using conservative assumptions of about 7 MW per square kilometer, this windy land could theoretically support over 70,000 MW of potential installed capacity," said Agham, a group of progressive scientists.
"We are accused of having presented no alternatives when in the first place, it is the government's responsibility to look for alternatives that will not pose severe damage on the peoples' health and environment. Now we have done our part in providing these information to the council; now it's time for the government to do what it is mandated to do - enhance research and technology on sustainable energy sources, implement and develop community managed energy resources," said Francis Morales, secretary general of Panalipdan Southern Mindanao.
While the debate was heating up at the committee hearing, the environment groups staged various forms of protest at Centennial Park.
Panels showing pictures, graphs and diagrams on alternative energy sources were exhibited in the grounds. Colorful streamers bearing no-to-coal slogans also surrounded the park.
A street play on the ill effects of coal plants was mounted by the Sining Alay sa Bayan (Silab), a cultural group composed of young advocates for peasant and indigenous rights.
Greenpeace' Solar Cafe, which generated power from solar panels, offered free brewed coffee to the audience.
Lindo also made a public lecture on the health and environmental impacts of coal plants. A video primer played throughout the morning program. (With PR/Sun.Star Davao/Sunnex)
Published in the Sun.Star Davao newspaper on May 07, 2011.
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