ENVIRONMENT advocates, along with a bishop, slammed reelectionist senator Cynthia Villar for her recent comments on developing a coal-fired strength plant in Negros Occidental.
In a press conference in Victorias City earlier this week, the Senator said coal is appealing, especially for terrible countries like the Philippines, because it is less expensive.
Villar, who chairs the Senate Committee on Environment, stated that while some coal generation might occur, it’s not allowed even inside the United States.
“Maybe allow us to look at those new technologies making coal as smooth power,” she said, adding, “If we do it, the difficulty on coal will be less arguable.”
Environment agencies and advocates aren’t amenable to such a pronouncement.
Romana de Los Reyes, of Coal-Free Negros, in an announcement to SunStar Bacolod, stated maybe Villar is relating to the claim of San Miguel Corporation Global Power Corp. The Circulating Fluidized Bed (CFB) coal plant’s miles in San Carlos City is an easy coal era.
“This declares a lie,” she stated.
According to the anti-coal group, CFB technology addresses the mitigation of the simplest emissions, such as sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide.
It stated that the CFB does not manage many different emissions from a coal plant, including particulate matter and acid aerosols, which cause grave respiratory ailments.
De Los Reyes said the era also did not deal with problems with coal dirt and ash inflicting critical skin allergic reactions and respiration problems.
She said the CFB also does not deal with the improved temperature of the water that the coal plant dumps into the nearby water frame, resulting in an enormous reduction in fish traps in nearshore waters.
“It no longer manages the weather-warming carbon dioxide that is released while coal is burned,” de Los Reyes said, adding that “burning extra coal will notably contribute to the weather disaster we are going through now.”
Diocese of San Carlos Bishop Gerardo Alminaza, a staunch supporter of a coal-unfastened Negros, said Villar’s declaration revealed her gross lack of knowledge and incompetence as chairperson of the committee and her loss of foresight, imagination, and visionary and take care of the environment.
Almanza said the Senator’s mention that coal-fired flora is beautiful to terrible international locations, like the Philippines, because they produce inexpensive energy suggests how out of touch she is.
“Of each person, I did now not anticipate to listen to it from no much less than Senator Cynthia Villar, chairperson of the committee on environment and imagined to be the main amongst senatorial in the recent survey,” he lamented.
Almanza, together with three other bishops in Negros Island, in advance, issued a collegial pastoral statement opposing coal.
The diocese and numerous environment agencies, including youth agencies in the province, have prepared activities like “no to coal” protests to oppose the pronounced plan to broaden a 300-megawatt coal-fired strength plant in San Carlos City.
“Look at Iloilo; it has at least three to 4 coal-fired strength flowers, and yet it has the maximum high-priced strength charge in the United States of America if no longer in Asia,” the bishop said.
Gerry Francis, government director for the Center for Energy, Ecology, and Development, stated coal is the inexpensive electricity supply for “bad international locations.” Keeping with Villar is a blatant lie.
“Not most effective is renewable strength from sun and wind now being touted as the most inexpensive source of power globally, coal is also being deserted internationally because of its monetary danger and environmental value,” he introduced.
For Jun Mojica, additionally, of Coal-Free Negros, the statement’s timing isn’t always best unfortunate; it is also unfavorable for the Senator.
“Instead of speakme for the pastimes and the environment of the human beings of Negros, she has placed herself against it using supporting the proposed coal-fired power plant,” Mojica additionally stated.
Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. Already issued Executive Order (EO) No. 19-08 Series of 2019, which declared the province as a source of easy and renewable electricity.
Before issuing the EO on March 6, as early as October final 12 months, Marañon proposed to the Provincial Board (PB) an ordinance putting forward the complete Negros Occidental coal-unfastened, smooth energy, and environment-pleasant province.
In the EO, the governor reiterated his advice to the PB to trouble a Renewable Energy Ordinance, similarly stating his opposition to establishing a coal-fired power plant everywhere in the province.
Vice Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, for his part, earlier stated that the PB’s committees on power and environment are still conducting a series of hearings and consultations with stakeholders.
Lacson stated that they must be cautious in passing judgment on the governor’s request and that people need to remember its long-term implications.
