Senator seeks investigation on coal power plants

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — Senate environment committee chairman Sen. Robert Jaworski promised to conduct a full investigation beginning January next year into the proposed construction of a $300-million, 210-megawatt coal-fired power plant on the 55-hectare property of the Philippine Veterans Development Corp. (Phividec) in Villanueva, Misamis Oriental.

Jaworski made this statement after the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) granted an environmental compliance certificate (ECC) to the project proponent, State Power Development Corp. (SPDC)

Despite the issuance of the ECC to SPDC, Jaworski is hopeful that newly installed DENR Secretary Elisea Gozun, who assumes her post next week, will look into the matter.

The senator said his committee will investigate both sides of the issue, looking into the disadvantages of operating a coal-fired power plant, as well as its advantages and how the project can help the economy without jeopardizing the health of people.

"Though coal fire power plants are operating in the centers of communities in the world, I personally would want to see how (these plants) operate," Jaworski said. – Bong Fabe