My Stand on the Issue of Coal Fired Power Plant in Iloilo posted on the

Solar Generation-Pilipinas website

http://solargenerationyouth.multiply.com/

The True Cost of Coal Fired Power Plant in Brgy. Ingore, Lapaz, Iloilo City

Coal is known to be the dirtiest, most carbon intensive of all fossil fuels. For
years, Iloilo has been enduring the severe effects of so called electrical power
shortage. The whole city is experiencing at least two hours of power
interruptions every day and regular brownouts have worsened in recent months.
To address this serious problem, Iloilo City government commissioned during the
last quarter of 2010 in Barangay Ingore, Lapaz the first $405-million commercially
viable-coal fired power plant. During the 1st week of September 2010, the project
faced sanctions and protests after emitting foul odor during a preliminary
operation of its steam generator believed to have caused ailments to residents
living near the plant site. Department of Environment and Natural Resources
(DENR) Regional Executive Director Julian Amador said that the coal plant project
of the Panay Energy Development Corp. (PEDC) was liable for violations of the
Clean Air Act and ordered its suspension.

According to the residents of Brgy. Ingore, the plant was producing a very foul
smell similar to rubber being burned. Inquirer News said at least eight children
aged 8 months to 14 years old were brought to the West Visayas State University
Medical Center over the weekend after they suddenly fell sick after complaining
of headaches, dizziness and nausea when the intense odor was experienced by
the residents.

As Iskolars ng Bayan, we want to be part in this major problem of the society by

becoming the solution to this concern. The University of the Philippines Visayas
College of Management Student Council (UPVCMSC) believes that there is no such
thing as clean coal. Currently, UPVCMSC is focusing its efforts on the greening of
the campus through the GREENISKUL Project launched this school year. The
project has its five major aspects- Sustainability Lectures, Vermi Composting
Project, Environment Education, Solid Waste Managment and the Energy Efficient
Campus. The Energy Efficient Campus (EEC) originally aims to help the campus
save more power as we are experiencing increased consumption of energy. But
with the advent of the coal fired power plant in Iloilo, we want to make the EEC
be involved in informing the localities of the ill effects of the power plant project
and take initiatives to stop its operations.

Last October 14, 2010 in celebration of the Global Day of Action, we conducted a
protest against the operations of the said plant and environmental awareness
campaign to inform the whole UPVCM community of what we believe and what
we want to happen. Investors will possibly come to put up their business, but
they will not be breathing the air that we breathe. They will just expect and reap
profits as we suffer the consequences of having a destroyed environment. Yes,
this could be a major leap for the economic and industrial development of Iloilo,
yet, we would not allow that every time you flick the light switch on from the coal
fired power plant, hundreds of living and non-living things are gone behind the
scene…forever. We believe that this is just our first step in helping people realize
that our environment is at stake because of wanting to achieve economic
progress. Now that almost three hundred students participated by marking the
big poster “STOP” through their painted hands, we believe that these coming days
especially on enrolment more people will be informed and will join this cause.
We want to inform and educate first our fellow students as well as the faculty and
staff. We are very much grateful and happy that the administration is supporting
our move. Our protests and campaigns started in our campus for the school
system is a vital part of our basic learning and is seen as a powerful vehicle for
change. As such, any program focused on advocacy and other multi-faceted
program of activities done within the school system, especially relating to
environmental concerns could eventually create a rippling effect and soon change
will be achieved in the much larger society. We believe that youth has a greater
role and influence to immediately implement change in the community.
There is no need to build centralized dirty sources of energy such as coal to
answer the Philippines' projected demand for energy especially when there are
other alternative energy solutions which are cost efficient, renewable and would
cause no harm to the people and to the environment. That is why we are pushing
for the Solar Panel Installation in UPVCM. The project will generate renewable
energy as well conserve energy that would have been used in a less energy-
efficient facility. And the solarized College of Management Wi-Fi Park is a visible
symbol of the University’s commitment to conserve energy. All in all, this project
will not only help our school in reducing our energy consumption but this could
be a showcase to the government of Iloilo that still they can resort to a more
efficient and eco-friendly source of energy.

Now that 10 business groups representing more than 350 companies in Iloilo
manifested their support for the coal fired power plant by the Global Business
Power Corp. (GBPC) and Panay Power Corp. (PPC), considerable actions should be
taken as well as immediate installation of the solar panel to encourage these
businessmen to give a second look on this issue and to think not only of
themselves and to participate in our Green revolution.