COAL PLANT IS REJECTED, QUESTIONABLE ECC MUST BE CANCELLED
RAMON G. LACBAIN II Zambales Vice Governor/ Chairman, People's Task Force on Hanjin & Subic Bay Inc. 15 August 2011 .Zambales governor Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. joins the provincial board by approving resolution no. 211-149 strongly opposing the establishment of a coal-fired thermal power plant in Sitio Naglatore, brgy. Cawag, Subic, Zambales.
Let it be known that among the first organizations that opposed this project is the Subic Bay Resort Association (SUBRA), the People's Task Force on Hanjin & Subic Bay Inc., the Greater Subic Bay Tourism Bureau (GSBTB) and followed by many others. When I accidentally came to know about this project during the presentation of the SBMA Ecology Center together with Taiwan Cogen before the municipal council of Subic, Zambales sometime in 2007, I immediately relayed it to SUBRA which afterwards requested from the SBMA Ecology Center a presentation about the proposed coal plant in Subic Bay. During the first and succeeding public consultations with SUBRA which later on involved the Subic Bay Freeport Chamber of Commerce Industry (SBFCCI), there was a very strong objection to the project. Other cause-oriented groups as well as the local government of Olongapo City opposed the project. I was also present when a presentation was made before the city council which later adopted a resolution strongly opposing the project. I don't remember any meeting or public consultations I have attended regarding the proposed coal plant in Subic Bay where the participants accepted or endorsed the project. I was out of the provincial board from 2007-2010 but I can't recall any instance when the proponents made a presentation before the provincial board. I asked the board members during those period and they confirmed that no presentation was made before them during their session. Until, I was re-elected as vice governor last 2010 and had the chance to attend another presentation, this time by Aboitiz Power, before the municipal council of Subic, Zambales on the proposed project. But what surprised me is when I saw the Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) issued by former DENR secretary Lito Atienza. Surprised because how come the ECC was issued when I can't remember any public consultations regarding the project where it was accepted or endorsed. The city council and mayor of Olongapo City, the municipal council of Subic, the governor and provincial board of Zambales and most especially the non-government organizations (NGOs) such as SUBRA, GSBTB, SBFCCI, etc. as well as cause-oriented groups are all against the project but why was the ECC issued. The social acceptability of the project is questionable and considering that this is the most important requirement for the issuance of the ECC. After several months since Aboitiz Power together with SBMA Ecology Center made a presentation before the provincial board regarding the project, no names of individuals and organizations that accepted or endorsed the project have not been submitted to the provincial board to justify the issuance of the ECC. In fact, new SBMA Director Philip Camara was even asking for an investigation of SBMA Ecology Center Manager Ameth Dela Llana for failure to submit the list of individuals and organizations that accepted or endorsed tbd project, as requested by Zambales provincial board. The people of Zambales and Olongapo must not retreat but must continue, with even more active and strong determination, to oppose this project which is being continued despite the opposition from all sectors. This project will definitely have adverse effects on our environment, health and our tourism industry in Subic Bay but in return for all these sacrifices no direct benefit will go the people. No real property taxes, no assurance of employment, no assurance of lower power rates, no assurance of environmental guarantee fund, no specific material or financial assistance to affected neighboring communities. There are other better alternative sources of energy, why insist on this coal-plant project, most especially in Subic Bay that must be preserved for tourism and fishery industries. For the sake of our environment, our health, our tourism and fishery and most especially our children's future - let's continue to oppose this project and finally get the cancellation of the ECC. Click to sign petition. www.ipetitions.com/notocoal NO SOCIAL ACCEPTABILITY, NO TO COAL PLANT IN SUBIC BAY
RAMON G. LACBAIN II Zambales Vice Governor Chairman, People's Task Force on Hanjin & Subic Bay Inc. August 17, 2011 .
I regret that the president of Subic Bay Freeport Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SBFCCI) Mr. Danny Piano has surrendered the fight against the planned coal plant in Subic Bay although I don't know if this is just his personal stand or of the whole chamber because I have yet to see a resolution of the chamber declaring their acceptance of the project. I respect him for his decision although admittedly he's a great loss to our cause.
But as far as the provincial government of Zambales is concerned under the leadership of Governor Hermogenes E. Ebdane, Jr., , we will never give up the fight and instead strengthen our resolved to prevent this planned coal plant to proceed, most especially when it is very clear that this project has no social acceptability. Until this time, after the lapsed of several months, SBMA Ecology Department has not submitted to the Zambales provincial board any list of individuals or organizations that accepted or endorsed the coal plant project which will prove the acceptability of this project by the affected communities, as required by law prior to the issuance of environmental compliance certificate (ECC) by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). The Zambales provincial leadership will now bring to the attention of Congress of the Philippines for appropriate investigation by their respective committee on environment how this coal plant project was issued it's ECC when it is very clear that it is not socially acceptable to the people. The province of Zambales is against it, the municipal council of Subic is against it, the city council of Olongapo is against it and most of the people's organizations are against it such as the Subic Bay Resorts Association (SUBRA), Greater Subic Bay Tourism Bureau (GSBTB), PREDA Foundation, Olongapo-Zambales Civil Society Network, AKBAYAN, People's Task Force on Hanjin & Subic Bay Inc. and many more organizations, students, teachers, farmers and fisher folks including the SBFCCI. I challenge the proponents of this project, if SBMA Ecology Department cannot do it, to reveal the names of individuals or organizations that are in favor of this coal plant project, if they cannot prove the acceptability of their project then they should stop from forcing the people of Zambales and Olongapo City to accept this project. We cannot surrender the future of our children, our environment, our health, the source of livelihood of our fisher folks and tourism establishments and our economy in general just because it is being forced on us. The power is in the hands of the people, most especially if we are united. We have high hopes that the new leadership of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) will give due course to the clamor of the people of Zambales and Olongapo city to stop this coal plant project. No to coal plant in Subic Bay. Yes to renewable energy. Yes to clean environment for Subic Bay! Click to sign petition. www.ipetitions.com/notocoal |
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