Only central office has authority: EMB-7 can’t resolve plea vs power plant

CEBU, Philippines - Environmental Management Bureau-7 Director William Cuñado said their Manila office, not his, is the right venue to resolve the request to stop the establishment of a 300-megawatt coal-fired power plant in Barangay Sawang Calero, Cebu City.

He also said the current conflict within of Ludo and Luym Foundation Incorporation, which proposed the construction of the power plant, is internal in nature.

“The issue is more on conflict between the board (members).  Environmental impact ba na? It’s more on leadership na nila…. Sa akoa lang ha, dili na pwede nga imong iapil ang problema nga dili sa environment, so unsa'y issue let the concerned agency solve it,” he said.

Kelly Luym, the previous Ludo president, had written EMB-7 last March 17 that the power plant should not be issued with an Environmental Compliance Certificate because its construction was never discussed with other members of their board.

Cuñado said the main role of their office is to check if the project is not in conflict with  environmental laws, but the ECC application for the Sawang Calero power plant is beyond their function or a matter only their main office has the authority to grant.

“Naa man gud na siya'y category sa mga power plants, power like that nga more than 30 megawatt ang central office na ana, below ana is regional,” he said.

“Ang review committee mo-check sa Environmental Impact Statement nga gi-submit sa proponent. Ilahang i-evaluate unsay impact sa socio, environment, and economic,” he added.

An EIS contains the positive and adverse impacts the Ludo sees of its project and the mitigating measures it would undertake to address the negative effects.

 The review committee, composed of private environment experts, will evaluate if the mitigating measures Ludo would adopt are sufficient in solving the environmental impact of the project.

Cuñado said the committee would need at least four sessions to evaluate the ECC application. After the evaluation, the review committee would go over the findings and recommend either the approval or the denial of the issuance of an ECC.

Members of the Cebu City Council, which has endorsed the project, earlier said they were keeping their hands off the Ludo controversy, mindful that it is an internal conflict.

“Kana nga naa'y problema sa corporation, dili maka-resolve ang any government agency ana.  Kinahanglan ma-resolve na sa company, specifically sa pamilya,” said City Councilor Alvin Arcilla, chairman of the zoning committee that endorsed the project.

He said the reason why the council endorsed the project to the EMB-7 last February 20 was to determine if it is within the bounds of the country’s environmental laws. (FREEMAN)