Home Updated September 12, 2011 08:25 AM
ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines -- Residents of barangay Talisayan are against the proposed establishment of a coal-fired power plant inside the Zamboanga Ecozone (Ecozone) by the San Ramon Power Incorporated (SRPI).
Barangay Captain of Talisayan Josephine Pareja said in an interview, “yung coal ay marumi. Pag sinunog yung coal may ash yun, saan ilalagay yun? itatambak ng itatambak dito sa amin?”
The barangay council of Talisayan earlier released a barangay resolution dated September 3 entitled a resolution expressing objection to SRPI’s intent to construct and operate a coal-fired power plant.
She explained that in Barangay Talisayan, there is no water source from Zamboanga City Water District. “Sariling kayod ang tubig namin dito. Pag nag pump ng tubig ang coal-fired power plant, ilang million gallon ng tubig ang kukunin nila sa lupa ng talisayan?”
Aside from this, the barangay captain is also worried of the ash that might be emitted by the plant including other toxic substances.
On the benefit of the construction of plant such as employment she said, “sabi nila upon operation only 180 employees from managerial down to the rank and file. Kung I compare mo sa sardines planta namin, 1,000 empleyado sa isang planta pa lang. If they want to compare the power plant to the plant of sardines, napakalayo.”
Pareja denied that the sardine factories near her barangay are using coal. “Ni isang planta wala kaming inaprove na coal. What was explained to us was they will use bunker oil, they will not use coal. Mega Sardines wants a resolution from the barangay and until now, we don’t give them the resolution because we don’t want them to use coal.”
The blackouts according to Pareja is only a threat, “yung blackout, yan ang threat nila, that’s the only threat they got, wala ng iba.”
She is suggesting the SRPI to go to renewable source of energy, “I have nothing against Conal, what I’m against is yung plano nila, yung coal, doon kami kontra. They can shift to other renewable source of energy, they can finance any project for energy. Pag sinabi coal ibang usapan na ito.”
Pareja also issued an appeal to the city government. “Sa city government I’m pleading please wag na ituloy itong coal fired plant sa Talisayan. Sa mga councilor, ang nariiring kong nag sasalita puro district two, my councilors sa District 1 sana protectionan nila kami tulungan at pakingan nila kami.”
The lady barangay captain pledged that she will do everything to stop the project of the SRPI saying, “we talk here about the adverse effects sa residente, protection ng residents ko. I will protect them hangang sa huling araw ko dito sa barangay. Whatever things we can do to stop this we will do it. Kung kailangang namin harangin yung daan haharangin ko yan. Kung kinakailangan, I'm not threatening anybody, but I will move mountain to stop this."
According to Pareja, there are 10,375 residents in her barangay including prisoners from the San Ramon Penal Farm. She assures that even the prisoners will oppose to the idea.
The host barangays of the SRPI includes Talisayan, Pamucutan, and Sinubung. The proposed power plant will be near the three barangays. Zamboanga Today
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