Isabela execs say no to coal-fired power plant

By Charlie Lagasca The Philippine Star Updated December 17, 2011


BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines – Isabela officials have reiterated their opposition to a coal-fired power plant in the province, saying they would not approved any mining projects or related activities.


Lawyer Noel Manuel Lopez, the provincial administrator, said the administration of Gov. Faustino Dy III has foremost in its mind the protection of the environment and that it will never allow mining operations and other environmentally destructive projects.


“The present administration remains to be an environmentalist and will never allow anyone to operate mining and illegal activities in the province,” Lopez said in Wednesday’s meeting of the Isabela environment protection task force.


Lopez also warned that the provincial leadership will not tolerate people or groups dropping the names of local government officials for activities that destroy the environment, including illegal logging.


The Dy administration, upon its assumption into office in June last year, said it would not push through with a coal mining project which had been in the works during the term of his elder brother, former governor Faustino Dy Jr.


The planned 167-megawatt power plant, supposed to be undertaken by the state-owned Philippine National Oil Co., was put on hold when the elder Dy was defeated by former broadcast journalist Grace Padaca amid Church-backed opposition to it.


When he became governor, defeating Padaca in the May 2011 elections, the younger Dy said he would not pursue the project anymore due to environmental risks.


He said his decision to eventually abandon the project also came after the national government broached plans to construct a P12.3-million hydroelectric power plant in Ilagan town, which is more environmentally friendly, as an additional source of power besides the three-decade-old Magat Dam along the Isabela-Ifugao border.


“We are more inclined to favor renewable energy like the hydropower plant. We cannot take chances anymore, especially in the light of climate change issues like the El Niño, La Niña and others we still don’t know of,” he said.


Coal-fired power plants, according to environmentalists, are among the most environmentally destructive power facilities after nuclear-powered power plants.