Vice governor: No need to worry

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu Vice Governor Gregorio Sanchez Jr. laughed off criticisms of some environmentalists that coal ash, which will be dumped at the controversial Balili property in Naga is reportedly pose human and environment risk.

Sanchez, who is an engineer and architect by profession, claimed to be responsible in developing the ash pond of then National Power Corporation, now Salcon Power Corporation in Naga in the year 1978.

“Until now, there was no complaint. Naa ba’y nangamatay? Wala man lagi,” Sanchez said.

The environmentalists are aired their concerns after Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia signed a memorandum of agreement with Kepco officials for the use of the provincial government-owned Balili Beach Resort in Naga as the dumping area for the accumulated coal ash once the company’s 200-megawatt power plant becomes operational in Feb. 2011.

The province will collect a fee of $1 dollar per ton of ash from Kepco. At the same time, the provincial government can also use the ash to fill the swampy portion of the 25-hectare beach resort.

The province is expected to earn at least $1 million for allowing Korean Electric Power Corp. to dump coal ash in Naga.

According to Sanchez, he will give an assurance to the environmentalists that they will be included in the planning and in the development for “the progress of the province.”

A careful study, according to Sanchez is conducted so that to protect the environment in filing up the swampy area, which they will secure using rubberized liners. 

Capitol consultant on information Rory Jon Sepulveda furnished the media a copy of the result of the analysis of the Environmental Management Bureau 7 dated October 2, 2006 that coal ash does not contain hazardous waste.

Naga Mayor Valdemar Chiong wrote EMB 7 regional Director Alan Arranguez asking the EMB to evaluate the fly ash from the NPC-Salcon Power Corporation, which he plans to make it as part of the filling materials, which would be mixed with limestone, for the then proposed reclamation project in his municipality.

Arranguez told Chiong in the letter dated October 3, 2006 that “can proceed with your plan” since EMB’s Toxicity Characterization Leaching Procedures had proved that the industrial fly ash is not toxic.

In the recent interview, Sepulveda said that not all fly ash is environmentally hazardous.

Sepulveda said that “it depends upon the composition of the coal…coal ash produced by various power plants in Cebu are environmentally safe.”

He also noted that all power plants in Cebu have secured government permits and clearances including environmental clearances from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

The province saw the deal as favorable for the province since it will help fill the swampy area in the property instead of spending the province’s own money for the same purpose. —/NLQ (THE FREEMAN)