Gwen fully lifts cease and desist order vs Kepco-SPC

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu Governor Garcia has fully lifted the cease and desist order to Korean Electric Power Company-Salcon Power Corporation (Kepco-SPC), which became controversial after residents around the area of the plant in Naga City complained of pollution.

Garcia said that she has seen the “sincerity and earnestness of Kepco-SPC to see to it that they may be able to continue operations in order to produce the power that Cebu urgently needs.”

Garcia said that in so doing, Kepco-SPC will also do their part in protecting the environment and the health of the constituents.

“We are pushing for development but it must be a sustainable development. I thank Kepco for aligning themselves in this direction,” she told reporters.

However, Garcia said there will be continuous monitoring and they expect Kepco to abide by their commitment to continue operations but to do so in a fully responsible manner.

Last Monday, Garcia ordered Provincial Engineer Eulogio Pelayre to check the Kepco-SPC coal yard if all the mitigating measures have been fully implemented. The power firm was given until April 30 to put all measures in place.

Garcia personally inspected the coal yard last week and stated that she saw a major improvement.

Garcia herself saw the sincerity of the company in implementing measures to prevent air pollution in the area but she wanted it checked after the deadline set.

The governor as well as Naga City Mayor Valdemar Chiong issued separate cease and desist orders last March after residents of the area surrounding the plant complained of dust pollution.

But Garcia conditionally lifted the order and the company was allowed to operate again after imposing temporary measures to mitigate the dust pollution, but the company was given until April 30 to implement permanent measures.

Kepco-SPC reported putting the measures in place ahead of schedule such as installing of steel poles, cyclone wire with wind nets, long-span GI sheets, concrete walls, as well as planting trees as a means to prevent dust pollution.

Seawater pollution control, noise pollution control and air pollution control devices were also set up.

Kepco-SPC’s Unit I already provides 100 megawatts of power to the Cebu-Negros-Panay grid since last February 28 amidst opposition coming from different environmental groups and the Unit II, which is also capable of generating 100 megawatts, will be commercially available before the end of May.

KSPC assures that protection of the environment and the health of the people, including its own employees and officials, is a top concern. –/NLQ (FREEMAN)