Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Misinformation on Coal

“There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics.
- Benjamin Disraeli


Misinformation it seems is the remaining tactic of the proponent of the 168 MW coal plant here in Iloilo. As more and more Ilonggos understand that putting up a coal plant right in our backyard is not such a good idea, the proponent and its PR team are now trying to spread more lies and half-truths.

Well what can you expect? Millions of pesos in annual profits are at stake here and that the proponent has hired the best spin doctors to weave a blanket of misinformation.

Clean Coal?

First, they keep on reciting this “clean coal technology” script as if repeating it a thousand times will at least make it sound cleaner. In industrialized countries they are already moving towards renewable alternatives to coal in recognition of the fact that coal plants are the dirtiest sources of energy.

And coal-plant investors in these industrialized countries are now even talking about advancing the technology such as burying the carbon emissions underground or the use of a gasified form of coal. Again, in recognition of the fact that coal-fired power plant technology including the circulating fluidized bed combustion proposed here in Iloilo is a dirty technology.

Shortage?

Secondly, these coal pushers take advantage of the power interruptions brought about by the inefficiencies of the PECO-PPC tandem and the region’s poor transmission infrastructure. Then they conveniently pair these brownouts and blackouts to their over-exaggerated power demand projections.

They spin this dark tale that these power interruptions are going to get worse and a coal plant is the only answer to this problem. But if you check the annual projections of the DOE since 10 years ago, they have been projecting a shortage as early as 2005. Do we have a shortage now? No. The problem that we have now can be solved simply by an improvement in the transmission facilities, not by a 168 MW coal plant.

Currently, Iloilo City has a peak demand of only 76 MW and we have a capacity of 84 MW (69 MW from PPC and 15MW form NPC), not to mention the 25 MW capacity of the Negros-Panay submarine cable that provides additional power to the island. Simply put, these coal plant PR managers are fear-mongering us Ilonggos to accepting a hazardous project.

I am not saying here that there is no need to build more power plants for the city’s future needs. What I am saying is let us not foolishly jump to this dirty project as we have enough time to study and solicit investors for a cleaner power source.

Safe?

Thirdly, I have never heard any of these coal pushers acknowledging that indeed coal plants pose dangers to both the human health and the environment as shown by tomes of documents worldwide. What is ironic however is that while there is no admission of any hazard, they keep on mouthing their ready reply called “mitigating measures.” I do not know why you need “mitigating measures” if this is supposed to be a “clean coal technology.”

Now, they even got somebody from the DOH to endorse the project. I really do not know how a doctor from the DOH can be so ignorant of the facts. This endorsement of the building of a coal plant right in a densely populated city is such an irresponsible act coming from a health professional.

The DOH doctor asserted, “As far the health is concerned, there's no question with that because our concern is public protection. DOH is supportive of the coal plant project as it believes that mitigating measures will be put in place precisely to protect the public.”

There they go with the “mitigating measures” again. Here is a DOH doctor who will entrust our city’s health and environment to the belief that “mitigating measures will be put in place.” Why not chose a cleaner option so that there will be no need to mitigate? Why put a community at risk if there are other safer alternatives?

In news reports this doctor never mentioned what mitigating measures she has in mind and did not even articulate a medical or scientific perspective on the issue. All she can say is that the coal plant project is okay, period. It seems that corruption in MalacaƱang has trickled down to the departments.

Shameless

The sad story here is that some media entities are becoming to be part of this misinformation. An example is the shameless practice of this certain news daily in slanting all its news stories for the coal plant and maligning those who opposed the project.

This newspaper, while it proclaims itself as “Western Visayas’ Most Read and Respected,” has a weird concept of balance news. It is balance in a way that it gives good publicity in proportion to the weight of your wallet.

An interesting coincidence is that the publisher/editor of the paper is the paid PR manager of the coal plant proponent.

(Send your comments and reactions to: for text messages to 0919-348-6337 and for e-mails to ianseruelo@gmail.com.)

Friday, March 07, 2008

A democratic alternative to GMA

(This is a statement from former UP President and now chairperson of Laban ng Masa Prof. Francisco Nemenzo)

A democratic alternative to GMA

The belated involvement of Makati Business Club and other elite groups in the campaign to oust Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is welcome. But we should not let them steal victory from the people.

The ouster of GMA will bring no significant improvement if the system of elite rule is left intact. Whoever accedes to Malacanang in this political framework will remain a captive of the greedy and colonial-minded elite.

For as long as the elite hold effective power, a snap election will be another contest between trapos who enjoy their financial blessings. Democracy is a fraud where people are merely asked to choose who among the candidates of the elite will represent and repress them.

The truly democratic alternative to GMA is a Transitional Revolutionary Government, a collective leadership that has the strength and political will to institute fundamental reforms. Since the country is damaged beyond repair after decades of oligarchic rule, it has to be rebuilt from top to bottom. New structures for popular participation at the grassroots level should replace the present pseudo-representati ve system. The neoliberal policies now dragging the country to the brink of disaster should be reversed. The public and private centers of power should be democratized. The bureaucracy, military and police should be cleansed of officials whose opulent lifestyles can only be sustained by graft and corruption.

We are appalled to hear the executive director of the Makati Business Club claim that his outfit financed the inter-faith rally last Friday. Laban ng Masa never received and will never accept any assistance from such a source. That is how the elite manipulate the elected trapos. That is why we are not only fighting for regime change; we are fighting for system change. We do not only want to rid the country of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo; we want an end to the system that breeds her type of leadership.

Readers’ take on corrupt politics

"Kung kaya mong isipin, kaya mong gawin
Isa-isang hakbang lamang at ika’y makakarating
Tulad ng puno na galing sa binhi
Ang mga dakilang gawa’y nagmula sa guni-guni..."

- from “Kung Kaya Mong Isipin” by Joey Ayala

Today I am featuring several emailed letters from this column’s readers. Many of the emails I received in the past days are in reaction to my previous article entitled “The Tentacles of Evil”.

What is common in many of the reactions I received is that despite of what is happening in our country, many well-meaning Filipinos are still ready to stand up for what is right and willing to act for the future of our nation.

Definitely you can sense the tone of hopelessness, of surrender to the seemingly bleak future ahead. We are buried in a very dark hole indeed, but let us hope that we Filipinos can muster enough wisdom, courage and sense of unity to choose the path that will lead us back to the light.

* * * * *
Kabayan,

We all desire to achieve our objectives....

What about those overnight critics/enemies of PGMA who were with her many years in their post and took advantage of enriching themselves? Should we also run after them...or just let them go scot free, as if nothing happened?

If we want to get rid of the scalawags in our society, we should consider the option of reaping them out also....and sow a new seed. Don't let the old weeds remain.

Just my thoughts...

From: maltares@kfupm.edu.sa

* * * * *

I feel so helpless seeing and hearing all this mafia function that’s been happening ever since she (Gloria Arroyo) was in power.

And to realize that she used those money for her own good, sacrificing our Inang Bayan. It saddened me to realize that those projects are good projects, broadband, North and South rail projects to name a few. I'm saddened because it hit me when I think the good impact of such. Broadband means good communication, faster link, same with the road construction that will boost our economy. Look at our neighboring Asian countries, Japan has the Bullet train that transport people faster, good roads and airlines, same with Singapore, Hong Kong and the like.

It’s so frustrating to know, that this unfinished projects cost this much $$$$ and our mahal na INANG BAYAN was in debt for millions AND millions of dollars. Seems like the Philippines was sold to China for the benefit of this hypocrite, and as you well said, FAKE president.

I agree that its time to stand up now before it’s too late, we will soon be carrying China's passport.

From: asilag@arrow.com

* * * * *
Just like many Filipinos, I am appalled by the latest events in our country. This administration just as the previous administrations has committed big crimes against our nation – corruption, corruption and corruption. I do not know if we can even live to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

I agree with you that it not correct to swallow the corruption of President Arroyo simply because all of them are corrupt anyway. We cannot trust any of those dirty politicians. It is time to move and bring out alternative leaders for our country’s future.

From: janreyes123@yahoo.com

(Send your comments and reactions to: for text messages to 0919-348-6337 and for e-mails to
ianseruelo@gmail.com)