Ecology groups may have heaved a sigh of relief when the Cebu provincial government canceled its four agreements with the Korean Electric Power Co. (Kepco) to dump its coal ash into the Balili property in Naga City.
After all, it was no mean feat tying up the joint agreement between the provincial government and Kepco to build a coal ash facility in the property whose purchase was questioned after it was learned that the area falls under public domain and thus cannot be sold for profit.
While the province had an easier time canceling the agreements with Kepco—in fact, it was the company representatives who broached the idea to cancel all four agreements to the Davide administration—it still has to collect the millions of pesos in payment it made to the Balili heirs as the case remains pending in court.
All four agreements in effect concern the creation of a coal ash facility in the property which had been questioned by ecology advocates, who cited complaints of ailments suffered by residents supposedly because of coal ash disposed in the area.
Ever since Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III won in last year’s elections, it was a given that the coal ash facility project would be canceled sooner than later. All those trips and statements issued by Cebu Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale and Provincial Board (PB) Member Arleigh Sitoy against the coal ash facility projects are but evidence that the Balili project venture pursued by Davide’s predecessor, now Rep. Gwendolyn Garcia of Cebu’s 3rd district, was to be dumped by the wayside.
Two things to consider: the cancelation of the coal ash project won’t prejudice the ongoing graft cases filed against former governor Garcia and other former Capitol officials tied to the Balili property purchase, and the Kepco coal plant would have to find another area on which to dump their coal ash.
The Davide administration made it clear that it won’t pay the contractor that covered the Balili property with limestone due to the cases filed against Garcia before the Sandiganbayan.
We also heard that the Davide administration may likely work out a new agreement with Kepco management, which explains why the company didn’t seek legal redress over the cancelation of its coal ash dumping facility.
It was a temporary setback, but surely they’re not expected to simply dismantle the coal plant they’ve spent billions of pesos in completing on the pollution complaints of Naga City residents, no matter how valid these may be.
Hence, the cancelation of the coal ash facility agreements is but a temporary victory for the residents and the ecology groups who now have to seek further court action to stop the coal plant operations.
Unless they can drum up support for a viable energy plant that can sustain the power demands of the province, the campaign to stop the coal plant operations will be a long, uphill battle.