Philippines: Proposed 2nd coal-fired power plant in Sual faces stiff opposition

Philippines: Proposed 2nd coal-fired power plant in Sual faces stiff
opposition

A proposal to build a second coal-fired power plant in Sual town is facing
stiff opposition from the townsfolk affiliated with the Save Sual Movement
which to date has around 900 members and is still growing.

This was revealed by former Sual Vice Mayor Alex Rigonan, who said the
movement headed by Rosanna Soriano, is now gathering signatures to a
petition opposing the construction of a new 900megawatt coal-fired plant,
not only from people of Sual but also from the whole first district of
Pangasinan.

In an interview, Rigonan slammed the proposed 900-megawatt power plant to be
built by the Phimma Energy Corp., formerly Trans-Asia and Energy Development
Corporation in Sitio Mangas, Barangay Baquioen, Sual.

The town is already the location of the 1,200-megawatt Sual Coal-fired Power
Plant in Barangay Pangascasan.

Saying one coal-fired power plant in Sual is already enough, Rigonan pointed
out that a second coal-fired power plant will bring much trouble to the
townspeople in terms of additional hazards to the environment as well as
health.

He said Sual Mayor Roberto Arcinue, whom he supported in his first three
months in his first term of office, was at first opposed to the coal-fired
power plant but changed his mind later.

"I refuse to believe that the change of heart of the mayor may have
something to do with the receipt by the municipality of Sual of its share
from the Real Property Tax (RPT) of the now operating Sual Coal-fired Power
Plant," Rigonan said.

He said Mayor Arcinue should think of the welfare of his constituents and
not only his personal and family interests before welcoming a second
coal-fired power plant in the town, as the first one, already in operation,
has brought many problems to the town and its people.

Not only the health of the people as well as the environment are now at risk
but also the soil, which are growing rice and vegetables, to be virtually
unproductive. He also noted that the Logolog River where the coal ash flow
from pond, is now deserted by fish and other marine life.

He said that in opposing the putting up of a second coal-fired power plant
in the town, he and members of the Save Sual Movement are no longer thinking
about themselves but the welfare of the future generations of Sual people
and wish their mayor to reconsider his stand on welcoming another coal-fired
power plant.

--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

Ref:
http://www.energycentral.com/news/proposed-2nd-coal-fired-power-plant-sual-f
aces-stiff-opposition?did=39205843&utm_source=2016_10_30&utm_medium=eNL&utm_
content=71965&utm_campaign=DAILY_NEWS

--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.

www.aptthailand.com