With temporary measures in place Kepco lessens coal dust woes

CEBU, Philippines - Kepco-SPC Power Plant officials announced that the temporary measures that were put in place at their plant in Naga City have succeeded in controlling the spread of dust.

A shipload of coal was successfully unloaded, but the company will continue to find permanent measures that will be put to stave off problems of dust spreading to the neighboring areas.

Lawyer Guillermo Dabbay, KSPC general counsel, said preventing dust pollution is a basic commitment of the firm in its pledge to continue to power the growth and progress of Cebu.

Senior vice president Antonio Corpus, likewise, confirmed that unloading of the coal supply proceeded without hitches.

In a press statement, KSPC said that Doosan Heavy Industries and Construction, the KSPC contractor, reported that work on the coal dust prevention measures is in full swing with the planting of 40 Indian trees, excavation works for the concrete road, and work on the concrete foundation. Dust protection materials like the long span G.I. sheets, G. I. wire mesh, and dust nets had also been purchased.

Meanwhile, the KSPC statement added that Naga City Major Valdemar Chiong and his people are closely monitoring the work at the plant and the situation at the neighboring communities.

The statement further said that Chiong has also been in touch with Rodien Paca of the Naganian Awareness Against Pollution Association (NAAPA) which is also closely watching for signs of pollution while work on the dust abatement measures at the KSPC plant goes full swing.

Paca was among the residents, who complained of coal dust pollution in early March. The peak of the pollution allegedly took place when raw coal was unloaded into the stockyard.

KSPC said that the mayor received no complaints of coal dusts when unloading of another supply of coal was carried out last week.

According to Dabbay, KSPC is strictly ensuring that their neighbors and hosts in Naga will no longer experience unfortunate incidents like what happened last March 9.

“KSPC is a good corporate citizen. We will religiously obey the laws and orders of officials of Naga City and the Province of Cebu. We intend to do business here for a long time. Providing electricity goes with ensuring health and protecting the environment. Being a good corporate citizen is doing good business,” said Dabbay.

To recall, the dust control facility at the coal yard failed last March 9 when a supply of coal was unloaded that led to complaints from Naga residents.

The premature arrival of another shipment of coal prompted Gov. Gwen Garcia and Mayor Chiong to separately issue cease and desist orders.

The cease orders were lifted conditionally when the technical plan for short-term and long-term remedial measures by KSPC technical team satisfied the governor and mayor.

Mayor Chiong in an interview with The Freeman confirmed that KSPC has put in place measures to solve the coal dust pollution.

   “Yes that’s true, hopefully their efforts will continue,” the mayor said

Some people residing within 100 meters from the plant confirmed that they have observed less dust in the air yesterday.

“Menos gyud tinuod karong adlawa ang abo. Tingali sad tungod kay dili kaayo kusog ang hangin,” said barangay North Poblacion Councilman Arcadio Enanoza.

Enanoza’s house is some 50 meters from the plant but he said there was no complaint of respiratory diseases in their family since the plant started operating.

Kier de Gracia who lives 100 meters from the power plant said they have also not the experienced dust pollution, but it could have been due to the direction of the wind.

But he said that KEPCO has started covering its coal yard with tarpaulin presumably, de Gracia said, to prevent the wind from carrying it away.

Both Enanoza and de Gracia have no objection to the plant as long as the company will do its duty to operate without compromising the health condition of the residents residing nearby. –with Jessica Ann R. Pareja/NLQ (FREEMAN)