Evironment chief to review permit for coal power plant in Iloilo

Environment department Secretary Jose "Lito" Atienza Jr has heeded the call of activists to review the environmental permit that his agency would issue to a company for building a 165-megawatt coal-fired power plant in Iloilo City. "I will review whatever processes that have to be followed in this particular issue," said Atienza, after his dialog with members of international environment group Greenpeace. Greenpeace earlier urged the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to suspend the issuance of an environmental compliance certificate (ECC) for the construction of the power plant. “Like Greenpeace, I am committed to fighting the adverse impacts of climate change and other threats to the environment. I am with (Greenpeace) with regards to our environmental concerns," Atienza said. However, despite Atienza's openness to review the permit, the issuance of the ECC could still be possible. "We also have to consider the other interests of the nation. If the coal plant is going to be providing energy, and if there are demands for it by the national economy and by the people, I cannot take a position very similar to (Greenpeace). But I assure you that we both have the same goal of keeping our environment clean and safe," Atienza said. Jasper Inventor, Greenpeace campaigner for Southeast Asia, said coal “ is the dirtiest, most carbon-intensive of all fossil fuels," and "is a major contributor to climate change." Coal emits toxic gases when burned, which could pose risk to the environment, and people’s health, according to Inventor. Greenpeace is also opposing the construction of the project in Iloilo because it believes that the province does not need additional coal plants. According to the group, there is an oversupply of 85-megawatt energy in Panay Island, and Guimaras province. It said that in the future, there would be an additional oversupply of energy from submarine cables linking Panay Island and Negros province. - GMANews.TV