Mayor slams Greenpeace
ILOILO City Mayor Jerry Treñas yesterday downplayed the anti-coal protest of international environmental advocate Greenpeace which “dumped” 20 sacks of charcoal in front of Metrobank on Gen. Luna Street.
“The protest has no effect on the business community here because they are very supportive of the coal plant proposal,” Treñas said.
In a statement, Melvin Purzuelo of Responsible Ilonggos for Sustainable Energy (RISE), said: “A coal plant does not and must not have any business in Iloilo nor the Philippines anymore. We want clean renewable energy to power the development of the city and our country…”
Reacting to Purzuelo’s claims, Treñas said: “We are very transparent, what we try to do is include everyone. Everyone has the right to say and right to disagree.
This is a free market of ideas. Everyone has the right to say anything, even if it’s stupid. Are they trying to stop developments here?”
Metrobank, one of the country’s largest banks, owns Global Business Power Corp. (GBPC) which is planning to build a 164-MW coal-fired power plant in the Panay Power Corp. (PPC) complex in Barangay Ingore, La Paz district.
Greenpeace is an independent, global campaigning organization that acts to change attitudes and behavior, to protect and conserve the environment, and to promote peace.
Greenpeace flagship Rainbow Warrior with foreign crew docked in the city since June 7 for its Philippine “Quit Coal Tour” in Southeast Asia and the Pacific.
“I don’t know if it’s really ‘green.’ The protest is okay, as a matter of fact, our style of governance is that we are not preventing anyone to speak out. But as visitors they have limitations to freedom,” stressed Treñas.
“There have been so many things done in the name of peace. What if we will go to their country and have a demonstration there?” he said.
“Foreigners cannot join protests here. They cannot dictate to us on what’s inside their coconut shell. Foreigners are not allowed to interfere in our way of life. What they are doing is not just intervention, it is interference,” Treñas explained.
The mayor said the proposed coal plant will be a long-term solution to unstable and costly power in the metropolis.
“The big question is there are brownouts. When we are sleeping and there’s brownout, we have to wake up because it’s hot. There are fire incidents blamed on lighted candles because of brownouts. Businesses are complaining of expensive power from diesel plant,” Treñas said.
He also dismissed fears of environmental and health risks from coal plant because of advanced technology that limits gaseous emissions.
“They (oppositors) should understand that emissions could be controlled because of mitigating measures like electrostatic precipitator and circulating fluidized combustion bed,” Treñas noted.
“They are protesting against greenhouse gases including carbon dioxide. Why not complain in the United States of America where 70 percent of their power sources are from coal plants? The US is the number one contributor to greenhouse gases while the Philippines’ share is just like a ‘thumb.’ Why not they tour around every state in America instead? Ngaa diri sila manggamu (why are they stirring Iloilo City)?” Treñas said.
Jeehan V. Fernandez, The Daily Guardian
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