BULALAKAW - Pandan Antique Newsletter

Official Publication of
Pandan Antique Foundation and Pagtatap Foundation, Inc.


PROPOSED 110 MW PANAY DIESEL POWER PLANT

FINDINGS AND COMMENTS ON NAPOCOR’S PROPOSED DIESEL POWER PLANT

1. By a letter dated September 20, 2002 addressed to Mayor Plaridel “John” Sanchez, NAPOCOR is requesting for endorsement from the Sangguniang Bayan (SB) of Pandan, to erect at this municipality, specifically at Danao, Patria, Pandan, Antique a 110 Megawatt diesel power plant. The idea reportedly is to transfer a 9-year-old diesel power plant constructed by Enron Power Development Corporation at Batangas province to Pandan.

2. The purpose of the project is to augment power supply in Panay island and stabilize electricity in Northwestern Panay.

3. The plant will be located along the seashore to allow docking of fuel tankers. The plant area is expected to occupy from 6 to 10 hectares of beachfront properties.

4. The plant site will be near the recently-proclaimed Northwestern Panay Natural Park and within the vicinity of protected marine sanctuaries.

5. Cited additional advantages to the municipality, aside from the boost in power supply, are employment opportunities and other economic benefits to the town.

6. The undesirable effects of the diesel installation include expected pollution of sea, land and air resources in the vicinity of the plant; the oil and dirt leaks anticipated from the fuel tankers and waste disposal barges; the soot and toxic contaminants from exhaust pipe emissions; the noise pollution from the diesel engines; and the destruction of forests due to cutting down of trees to give way to transmission lines. Some of the destructive effects to the environment are irreversible.

7. Research studies show that among the ailments attributed to diesel power plant emissions and pollution, the most prominent are various respiratory diseases and cancer.

8. The destruction of the earth’s ozone layer is attributed to diesel engine emissions.

9. Diesel power plants are the dirtiest type in the world.

10. Construction period is programmed at 29 months and targeted completion date is January 2005.

COMMENTS:

ø Among alternative types of power sources, a diesel power plant creates the most pollution and has the most destructive and devastating effect on the environment. The destruction of water resources and soil may be irreversible. Smog and other impurities and carcinogens in the air will pose serious health hazards to living beings. Land values usually become depressed due to the undesirability of the area for occupancy of living beings.
ø Diesel power plants are ordinarily cheaper compared to other power sources; however, in the final analysis the attendant costs to people and environment far outweigh the benefits.
ø A diesel power plant is definitely not in harmony with an environmentally protected area and with inhabited territories.
ø Available research studies all point to different sorts of health hazards and ailments that cannot be acceptable in human communities.
ø There are reported signs of deception in the manner the project is being sought for approval from the area residents. Waiver and similar documents have been presented for signature of the residents where the contents of such documents were not properly explained and where no copies have been provided to the residents who have been coaxed into signing such.

- E. R. Rodillon (PAGTATAP Foundation, Inc.)


SPECIAL ISSUE

November 22, 2002

Volume 2, Issue 2


Inside this Issue

Headlines
Page 1

Proposed 110 MW
Diesel Power Plant

Page 2

Health Effects of
Diesel Exhaust

Page 3

Letter to the VM
by Thelma M. Ramos

Page 4

Letter to the SB
by Dr. Bob Alojipan

Page 5

Letter to the SB
by Dr. Cesar Candari

Page 6

Letter to the SB
by Dalmacio ALojipan

Page 7

Letter to the SB
by Dr. Lolly A. Burgos

Page 8

Letter to the SB
by Thelma M. Ramos

Page 9
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