34 Naga residents have respiratory tract infection

CEBU, Philippines - Environmentalists said they have found an “even more substantial cause of action” to keep blocking the Korean Electric Power Corporation-Salcon Power Corporation power plants from operating by 2011.

Environmental lawyer Ben Cabrido, a member of Global Legal Action on Climate Change, said that the results of the consolidated health report by health practitioners conducted among 97 residents of Naga barangays Colon, Pangdan, Tangke 1 and South Poblacion two weeks ago showed that 34 people have upper respiratory tract infection.

The report, as affirmed by Dr. Ogie Jimenez, who headed the evaluation, includes three people with Koch’s pulmonary infection which can lead to tuberculosis.

Among the diseases prevalent in the medical result are urinary tract infection, hypertension, musculoskeletal fatigue, systematic viral infection, skin diseases, acute bronchitis, and pneumonia.

But Jimenez emphasized that these diseases cannot be “solely attributed” to the harmful effects of coal ash from the coal-fired power plants in Naga because “diseases are multifactorial”.

“We still need to conduct an in-depth study on this matter. An index study is needed,” he said.

Based on the investigations of GLACC and the Visayas Climate Action Network, it was found out that the river in barangay Pangdan has been reportedly diverted to make it alienable.

He cited the provision in Water Code which states that utilization of Chapter 1V article 58 which states that “When a river or stream suddenly changes its course to traverse private lands, the owners or the affected lands may not compel the government to restore the river to its former bed; nor can they restrain the government from taking steps to revert the river or stream to its former course”.

“The owners of the lands thus affected are not entitled to compensation for any damage sustained thereby. However, the former owners of the new bed shall be the owners of the abandoned bed proportion to the area lost by each.”

But Cabrido argued that the intentional “rerouting” of the river by the Naga municipal office was to benefit the private sector.

He continued that the said river is now being used as a dumpsite for the coal ash.

Cabrido continued that people behind the implementation of the power plant violated four environmental laws, one of which is Civil Liability penalizing those involved in the dumping of coal ash.

“This production of coal ash will only quadruple because pollution knows no boundaries…pollution does not confine only to the people of Naga”, he said

He said that if KEPCO will operate, Naga will be a “wasteland” five years from now.

Vince Cinches, executive director of Central Visayas Fisherfolk Development Center said that the operation of greatly affect the public once the power supply consumers pay the actual consumption of the coal-fired power plants.

On the other hand, Cabrido also affirmed that the public will share the burden of subsidizing these plants.

He said that power supply consumers are expected to react badly once they see their electric bills.

“Before it wasP1.80 per kilowatt-hour but today it is P5.80 to P6 and it is expected increase to P2 every billing period,” he said.

He called for the consumers to join their cause saying that: “Kung dili mo mokuyog namo sa among kampanya…atong kwarta adto lang sa mga dato na kompanya,”

According to lawyer Gloria Estenzo-Ramos of GLACC because of many environmental issues like the Naga power plant, they will send “notices to sue for failure to implement a safety environment” to the LGUs and concerned parties who are involved in the operation of the 200- megawatt coal power plant.

Ramos, as part of GLACC’s the environmental campaign will spearhead the establishment of a “Philippine Environmental Justice Center” where the public can channel their environmental concerns and complaints

Filing for a case against companies and individuals violating the environmental law, according to Cabrido and Ramos, shall be free of charge.

“2010 is definitely an active year,” Ramos ended. – Marjun A. Baguio, University of Cebu intern/BRP   (FREEMAN NEWS)