'Do investors need to pass RDC?' question puzzles Treñas
The discussion on the proposed construction of a coal-fired power plant is expected to heat up as Mayor Jerry Treñas requested the National Economic Development Agency (NEDA) to provide him with guidelines that require investors to present their proposed investment to the Regional Development Council (RDC).
In yesterday's interview, Treñas said he asked NEDA regional director Ro-Ann Bacal to provide him the guidelines requiring investors such as the Global Business Power Corporation (GBPC) to present their business portfolio.
The chief executive's act was in response to the collective decision of the five governors of Western Visayas for the GBPC to present the proposed coal-fired power plant project to the members of the RDC. The decision was reached in last week's meeting of the mayor and the different governors.
Earlier, five governors have written President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to order the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to cancel the Environmental Certificate of Compliance (ECC) it already issued to GBPC.
Treñas has openly endorsed the project citing the need for a stable power supply for the residents and businesses in the city especially with the entry of number of call centers in the city where power is the primary requirement for their operation.
Treñas, being the RDC's chairman of the infrastructure committee, said he has to be guided with the guidelines from the economic development agency before calling the GBPC to brief the governors and other members of the development council of the proposed coal-fired power plant.
Treñas said he was informed by former Department of Interior and Local Government Luis Molavin that the RDC did not dip their hands when the proposed coal-fired power plant in the town of Concepcion was introduced. The project proponent did not pass through the RDC.
Treñas lamented the RDC did not compel the project proponent. He said he wants to know if there is such rule that requires all other investors in the city such as the Megaworld to present their project before the RDC.
He said only proponent of the government projects are required to present their project proposal to the RDC. Treñas recalled some projects that requires RDC's approval are the Iloilo Flood Control Project and the circumferential road.
The mayor added that the Task Force on Coal Fired Power Plant headed by City Environment and Natural Resources Officer Eng. Noel Hechanova has already presented the result of their study before the RDC's economic development committee chaired by DTI Director Dominic Abad.
When asked if there is no rule that mandates, private investors in presenting their respective project proposals, Treñas did not make any comment. "The briefing of the project is only for presentation purposes," he said.
The mayor did not say on whether the decision of the RDC has a weight in the cancellation of GBPC's ECC. GBPC is proposing to build a 164-MW coal-fired power plant in Brgy. Ingore, La Paz district. The plant is expected to be completed by 2010.
An ECC or Certificate of Non-Coverage is is required for projects perceived to have environmental impact. The issuance of the certificates automatically gives the go-signal for the projects. GBPC's ECC was granted by DENR Secretary Jose "Lito" Atienza Jr. on September 1, 2008. A ground breaking for the coal-fired power plant project was already held…