Cebu City Council Defers OK Of Resolution Endorsing 300MW Coal-Fired Power Plant, Sets New Hearing On April 17

The Cebu City council has deferred the approval of a resolution endorsing the proposed 300-megawatt (MW) coal-fired power plant of the Ludo Power Corp. (LPC) in Barangay Sawang Calero, this city.

Cebu City Councilors Noel Wenceslao and Richard Osmeña earlier filed a proposed resolution endorsing the power plant project.

But the council instead set another public hearing on the USD500-million power plant project on April 17 after more than a thousand Sawang Calero residents signed a petition opposing the project.

Some of them trooped Wednesday to Cebu City Hall to express their opposition to the Cebu City Council, which had its regular session.

The residents, wearing black arm bands and T-shirts with “No to Coal” print, said they were not consulted about the proposed power plant.

But Sawang Calero Barangay Captain Ariel Yburan said three consultative assemblies were conducted for the project, but those who opposed the project did not attend to air their objections.

He said a consultative assembly was held last Feb. 17 for Barangay Sawang Calero and neighboring Barangay Duljo-Fatima, with representatives from the Geoshpere Technologies Inc., the consultant of LPC on the project.

Last March 1, he said another meeting was reportedly held with representatives of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources as part of the environmental impact assessment of the project.

The day after, Yburan said the barangay held a general assembly with more than 300 residents to discuss the project.

Yburan said a tarpaulin sign was posted outside the barangay hall to notify the residents about the public hearing. (PNA) LDV/EB/EDS