Naga barangay captains cry foul over skin disease allegations

CEBU, Philippines - Twenty-eight barangay captains in Naga signed a resolution contesting what they described as a humiliating and embarrassing campaign against the ongoing construction of two power plants in the locality, which reportedly has caused the spread of skin diseases among Naga residents.

“The unfounded allegations of widespread diseases in Naga as a result of a dumping of a coal ash have created unwarranted alarm and fear of the impact of the two modern coal-fired power plants being built,” Resolution No. 008-A-2009 reads.

The barangay captains, all members of Naga’s Association of Barangay Councils, argued that even the Office of the City Health Officer, in a report last September 17, 2009, said that barangay health workers, midwives and barangay captains reported no complaints “due to skin disease related to alleged indiscriminate dumping of coal ash.”

They also said that the ongoing call by non-residents of Naga to stop the construction of two power plants there has a “tremendous, adverse impact in the economic development of Naga as an emerging city in Cebu.”

The barangay captains said that the future of Naga must be decided by the Nagahanons themselves. They said the modern power plants are crucial to their development as an emerging city and will be for the best interest of Naga residents in particular, and the entire province in general.

They said further that the two power plants have begun boosting the domestic economy because of the employment of around 1,000 Nagahanons. The power plants would also stimulate more commercial activities and would create more business opportunities.

Environmental lawyer Benjamin Cabrido of Global Legal Action for Climate Change said earlier his group intends to file an injunction case before the Supreme Court to stop the operation of KSPC.

The power plant project, dubbed the Visayas Base Load Power Project, is a joint venture of Kepco Philippines Holdings and Salcon Power Corporation. It involves the construction and operation of a coal-fired power plant, which is aimed to provide additional 200mw power to the already tight Visayas grid.

At the Capitol, consultant Rory Jon Sepulveda challenged environmentalists to show results of an independent study to substantiate their claim that the coal ash in Naga is hazardous.

“Kung maka-present sila og specific study, maayo. Ilang ipakita, haron ma-guided pud ang province,” Sepulveda said, adding that what have been presented are but studies lifted from “foreign sources.

He said that contrary to the claims, a study made by Ostrea Mineral Laboratories, Inc. on the old coal ash of Salcon stated that the elements found in the samples sent to its office do not reach the level of toxicity. The samples reportedly came from the old ash pond of Salcon that KEPCO personnel had excavated.

In fact, some of the excavated ash was reportedly used as filling materials in some areas in Naga.

The results, released on September 10, 2009, were certified by OSMLI chemist Leonila Adarna who holds office in Mandaue City.

These results echoed the findings of the Environmental Management Bureau’s, which states that Salcon’s coal ash “does not contain prescribed hazardous wastes.”

Naga City Mayor Valdemar Chiong commissioned the EMB to conduct the study before the city uses the coal ash as filling materials to the then planned reclamation project.

The result of the analysis released on October 2, 2006 stated that the “solidified material is considered as industrial solid waste that does not contain prescribed hazardous wastes…thus, it can be disposed into LGU-landfill area without clearance from this office.”

 The report was signed by then EMB-7 Regional Director Alan Arranguez.

Chiong said earlier the city saved millions from using the coal ash as filling materials to their reclamation project on which the City Hall now stands. — Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon and Liv G. Campo/JMO    (FREEMAN NEWS)