Rama wants compliance in coal plant project

The proposed coal plant site at the Ludo company area. (CDN PHOTO/JUNJIE MENDOZA)

CEBU City Mayor Michael Rama sees no problem with a proposed coal-fired power plant project in Barangay Sawang Calero.

But Rama, who met with the coal plant proponents, said the project should comply with the law.

“First and foremost, it should go through the process, then let the mayor go by the circumstances, the facts and all. If assuming there are laws violated, then I am always going to be on the side of the law,” Rama told reporters yesterday.

This came as Councilor Nida Cabrera voiced surprise over a proposed resolution endorsing the coal plant project.

Cabrera said she was surprised to see in the council’s agenda a proposed resolution sponsored by Councilors Richard Osmeña and Noel Wenceslao already favorably endorsing the project.

“We still have to discuss this with the council. Even the people of Sawang Calero submitted a petition, with more than 1,000 signatures, against the project,” Cabrera told Cebu Daily News.

Ludo Power Corp. plans to build and operate a coal-fired thermal power plant in Cebu City. The project underwent a public hearing at the Cebu City Council and drew objections from environmental groups.

The company needs the approval of the Cebu City government to secure an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

Rama said the plan will also have to be discussed with the city’s planning and the zoning boards.

When told about the opposition of environmental groups to the project, Rama said safeguards should be put in place by the proponent.

“But the most important thing is we need power. Number two, is there a law prohibiting coal power?” he said.

Cabrera, who heads the environment committee, said the council  approved a resolution declaring a moratorium on coal-fired power plants in the city three years ago.