Man with coal ash samples held at airport

CEBU, Philippines - An environmental advocate tasked to bring coal ash samples to Manila from four barangays in Naga was held at the Mactan Cebu International Airport yesterday.

Owen Migraso, Research and Advocacy Program Coordinator of the Fisherfolk Development Center, was checking in at MCIA when airport personnel inquired about the container with the coal ash samples.

When he told them the samples would be brought to Manila for toxicity test, he was reportedly instructed to coordinate with representatives of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources for a certification. 

“Dali ra man nakuha nako ang permit kay samtang naa pako sa airport, gitawagan naman dayon sa VCAN lawyers and Environment Management Board para malihok daan ang mga necessary papers,” Migraso said.

The 12 samples of coal ash, sealed in individual packages of approximately 300 grams each, will be flown to Manila today.

The samples will be taken to the Philippine Institute of Pure and Applied Chemistry and will be tested of mercury, arsenic, lead, chromium, and other toxic elements believed to cause respiratory diseases, damages to brain resulting to intellectual slowdown, dermatitis, and other skin problems among several residents of Naga.

Migraso said what happened at the airport was just part of the “tedious process” of protecting the environment. FDC is a member organization of the Visayas Climate Action Network.

In a text message, environmental lawyer Gloria Estenzo-Ramos also said the incident was just a piece to their “learning journey”.

MCIA Public Information Officer Ahmed Cuizon explained the airport personnel were just following the protocol set by DENR.

Other than the coal ash sampling procedure, FDC has conducted a physical evaluation and tracing the medical history among the residents of Naga to see if the presence of the coal ash brings health hazards to the community.    

Mayor’s stand

As reported earlier, Naga Mayor Valdemar Chiong said Naga residents are supporting the two 100-megawatt power plants of Kepco-SPC. He said the municipal government can generate a revenue of between P20 million to P30 million annually for the payment of real property taxes alone.

This is reportedly aside from the employment that the power plants would generate. The plants are reportedly expected to hire 1,500 local workers, majority of them from Naga.

Legal Implications

Under the May 6, 2009 agreement with Kepco, the Province of Cebu agreed to allow Kepco to dump its coal ash in the Balili property for $1 per ton for a term of at least 25 years subject to extension.

The environmentalist groups emphasized that there was conflict of interest when the province agreed to host the dumping of the coal ash in the Balili estate and assume Kepco's legal responsibility for the proper handling and disposal of its coal ash.

In a notice dated August 26, 2009 sent by the environmentalists, it said that the province “bargained away its power and authority to monitor, regulate and keep Kepco's activities complaint with legal environmental standards”.

The notice also read that “having thus assumed Kepco's responsibility for the dumping of its waste, the Province of Cebu would be powerless to hold Kepco responsible for violation of the law in regard to the proper disposal of its coal ash as Kepco could easily shift the blame back to the province on the strength of the Memorandum of Agreement.”

Plans of action

As of press time, the group will wait for the laboratory test results, which is expected to arrive in two weeks. The results of the toxicity test would reportedly be considered scientific proof against the power plants.

Ramos said earlier “litigation” against those who are involved in the implementation of the said project can be expected once they gather documents that would support a legal action.

Migraso told The Freeman that together with the “discreet support” of some businessmen and member-organizations of their advocacy, they hope to continue with their educational campaign in various universities in Cebu, institutions, and non-government offices to promote global climate awareness program. - Marjun A. Baguio, University of Cebu Intern/JMO   (FREEMAN NEWS)