AboitizPower unit Therma South gets award for environmental compliance

MANILA, Philippines - AboitizPower subsidiary Therma South Inc. was awarded for environmental compliance.

AboitizPower’s concern for the environment and its host communities was recognized after its subsidiary Therma South Inc. (TSI) was awarded with the first-ever Outstanding Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) at the Manila Hotel last June 21.

The award for the 300-MW Therma South Energy project in Davao was given by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB) during the First National Convention on the Philippine Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) System.

The Therma South EIA was  cited for “exceeding procedural and substantive standards of the Philippine EIS system,” while displaying the highest technical standards through “sound scientific approach and coherence, excellent technical comprehensiveness and impressive communication of the EIA results.”

EIA is the process of predicting the environmental effects a project and designing measures to prevent these effects from having a negative impact to the environment and to the people. The citation said the Therma South project is “a model for other EIA reports.”

“This recognition is testament to the priority and value the Therma South Energy Project gives to the protection of the environment and the welfare of our host communities,” said TSI president and chief operating officer Benjie A. Cariaso.

“Our objective since day one is to build a world-class power plant that Dabawenyos and Mindanaoans will be proud of – supplying reliable power while causing the least adverse effect to the environment.”

The EIS studies were judged for their technical merits like methodology of the assessment, standards and consistency, as well as their technical comprehensiveness through the presentation of information and the consideration of all components.

The EIS studies were also assessed on its technical comprehensiveness through the presentation of information and the consideration of all components.

The studies were also judged assessed in terms of its presentation and effective communication, for better understanding of stakeholders and effective communication for better understanding of its stakeholders.

DENR-EMB XI regional director Ester A. Olavides said the award should encourage other companies to strive for the high standards set by AboitizPower.

“DENR-EMB XI has set the bar higher and will make sure that it will continue to demand the highest commitment from all project managements in implementing measures to protect the environment and the community,” Olavides said.