Tom backs move to dump coal ash

CEBU, Philippines - It’s not in all matters that the feuding Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña and Governor Gwendolyn Garcia differ.

This as Osmeña, a staunch critic of the governor, agrees that the use of ten hectares of the controversial Balili property for the dumping of coal ash will be essential to save Cebu’s economy.

The mayor said that Cebu needs additional source of electricity.

He said that this is a matter of sacrificing ten hectares of land to dump the coach ash for the greater good of the people of Cebu.

 “People have to survive and make our economy live with stable electricity or we will not be the center of commerce,” Osmeña said.

While he admits at not being an expert on pollution, Osmeña thinks that there is technology that can be used to prevent damage to the environment.

“If I were to give my best opinion about what is happening in dumping coal ash as filling material, I think its better to throw it into the sea, because the sea can absorb so much of these things, as long it is done in the manner where there is a strong circulation of water, but if its done in an area where it is confined you can find a build up of pollution in that area,” Osmeña said.

The mayor cited how some places, like Hawaii, have their sewers pour out to the sea, but not in the immediate vicinity of the islands.

The mayor said that there is now a shortage of power and this matter has to be immediately answered.

“If I am to make a decision based on my knowledge right now, we need that power too otherwise our whole economy will suffer in a few years.”

The mayor said that we don’t experience it much yet in the city because the big power consumers have signed a memorandum that they will use their generators in case there would be a shortage from the suppliers.

Osmeña added that coal-fired plants remain to be the cheapest source of electricity, but there are also issues of pollutants found in coal particularly sulfur.

The Korean Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) is now building a coal-fired power plant in Naga that is expected to produce an additional 200 megawatts of power for Cebu’s consumption.

The province bought the Balili property in order to build an international port and had also allocated several hectares as a site for the dumping of coal ash.

The Korean power firm has agreed to pay Cebu Province $1 per metric ton of coal ash dumped.

Osmeña and Garcia, who are both allies of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, have not been in good terms as they have disagreed in many matters.

This started from the botched land swap deal that was to save 5,000 families living in Cebu City from eviction from lots owned by the province that were sold to them, but have remained unpaid.

Since then, the city and province have been at odds. 

A project planned by the province at its lot that used to house the old Cebu International School, has been blocked by the city and the province had called for a Congressional inquiry into the sale of a portion of the city’s South Road Properties (SRP) to Filinvest Land Inc.

Osmeña has also criticized Garcia for its lavish spending on the construction of the Cebu International Convention Center while Garcia has taken potshots at Osmeña for the city’s debts due to the SRP. —/NLQ (THE FREEMAN)