Cebu vicariate expresses concern over coal plants

The vicariate of Cebu, headed by Msgr. Chris Garcia, met with officers of the Cebu Alliance for Renewable Energy last Tuesday to express its concern on the issue of Salcon's proposed additional coal-fired power plants.

But while the vicariate considered the issue important, it refused to give an official statement until the public hearing on Salcon's proposed expansion is held this Saturday.

CARE is opposed to Salcon's proposal to put up additional coal-fired power plants because of health and environmental risks.

As this developed, another non-government group yesterday expressed support to the proposal of putting up additional coal-fired power plants in Naga.

Katawhan Alang sa Baratong Kuryente, in a press statement, called on the Department of Energy and the Arroyo administration to continue putting up power plants to ensure continued power supply in Cebu. The group said that with the series of increases in oil prices and commodities, they are concerned that the price of electricity will again go up.

With this, they urged the energy department to put up more power plants to boost the power supply in the province while making it cheaper for the consumers.

"We consider the putting up of additional power plants in Naga as possible solution to the problem on power shortage in the province as long as they pass the stringent environmental standards of the government," said Edward Ligas, KABAK chairman.

He said his group is also urging legislators to review the Electric Power Reform Industry Act to make it responsive enough to the needs of the ordinary consumers.

Meanwhile, residents of the barangays that surround the Naga plant are to conduct a public assembly tomorrow to discuss the proposed expansion of Salcon.

Salcon management has also called for a press conference today to clarify some issues regarding their proposed expansion and correct some misconceptions about it.