2008 R - 131 - EXPRESSING THE CITY GOVERNMENT OF OLONGAPO’S OBJECTION TO COAL-FIRED POWER PLANTS AS AN ENERGY SOURCE AND URGING THE PROPONENT

EXCERPTS FROM THE MINUTES OF THE REGULAR SESSION OF THE SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD OF OLONGAPO, HELD ON AUGUST 27, 2008 AT THE CITY HALL.

PRESENT:

Hon. Cynthia G. Cajudo - - - - - - - - - - City Vice-Mayor & Presiding Officer
Hon. Gina Gulanes-Perez - - - - - - - - - - City Councilor
Hon. John Carlos G. Delos Reyes- - - - - - - - - - - - “ “
Hon. Rodel S. Cerezo- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - “ “
Hon. Sarah Lugerna Lipumano-Garcia - - - - - - - - “ “
Hon. Edwin J. Piano- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - “ “
Hon. Angelito W. Baloy- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - “ “
Hon. Aquilino Y. Cortez, Jr. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - “ “
Hon. Anselmo A. Aquino - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - “ “
Hon. Elena C. Dabu- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - “ “
Hon. Jonathan G. Manalo - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - “ “
Hon. Cheenee F. Hoya - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - SK Federation President
Hon. Carlito A. Baloy- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - President, Liga ng mga Barangay

ABSENT:

None.

RESOLUTION NO. 131
(Series of 2008)

A RESOLUTION EXPRESSING THE CITY GOVERNMENT OF OLONGAPO’S OBJECTION TO COAL-FIRED POWER PLANTS AS AN ENERGY SOURCE AND URGING THE PROPONENT TO CONSIDER SAFER ALTERNATIVE SOURCES OF ENERGY FOR SUBIC BAY

WHEREAS, Redondo Peninsula Energy Inc. a joint venture between Aboitiz Energy and a Taiwanese company is proposing to put up 2 X 150megawatt coal-fired power plant in Sitio Naglatore, Barangay Cawag, Subic, Zambales;

WHEREAS, the presence of a coal-fired power plant in Subic Bay would generate negative perception and impact on the clean, pristine image of the natural environment - the idyllic mountain ranges, clear waters and the affable people which are the core selling points of Olongapo City, Subic Bay Freeport Zone and the provinces of Zambales and Bataan;

WHEREAS, the proponents of the coal-power plant assures relatively low emission and the lowest environmental impact possible. Even so, it does not discount the fact that harmful emissions will definitely affect lives and the livelihood of communities in the next 50 years. There must be no tolerable and acceptable levels of pollution so as not to compromise the health and welfare of the environment and the communities:

WHEREAS, the use of coal and other fossil fuels contribute to global-warming, pollution and environmental degradation. As a matter of fact, China is suffering from the ill effects of years of using coal as fuel for energy, with an estimated four hundred thousand (400,0000) premature deaths every year and increasingly worsening air quality. China is now switching to renewable, green source of energy. In the United States, there are even scientific studies showing that high mercury emission levels from coal-fired power plants have direct links to autism and mental retardation;

WHEREAS, although a cheap source of energy, the long term effect of coal-fired power plants on our community will prove costly, triggering massive respiratory infections and diseases, promising to add to the present economic burdens of escalating prices of basic goods, commodities and fuel;

WHEREAS, part of the requirements in the issuance of an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) from the Department of Environment & Natural Resources (DENR) is the social acceptance of a proposed project by the affected stakeholders of the community;

WHEREAS, the City Government of Olongapo and its people are not against progress and development in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone and Zambales but emphasizes the need for an environment and people-friendly, pollution-free, renewable energy solution to sustain both social and economic developments;

WHEREAS, after diligent analysis of the presentation of the proponent vis-à-vis the concerns and studies of various environmental groups, health experts, socio-civic organizations, business entities, marine scientists and tourism stakeholders, the City Government believes that the grim environmental and economic impact of a coal-fired power plant in Subic Bay is long-lasting, far outweighing its perceived and unproven benefits to our local economy which ironically relies heavily on tourism;

WHEREAS, the City Government of Olongapo through the City Council spearheads the movement and joins the collective opposition and conscientious objections of cause-oriented groups business and peoples’ organizations, the academe, the religious community and the entire citizenry in declaring resoundingly: “NO TO COAL, YES TO RENEWABLE, SUSTAINABLE, GREEN ENERGY SOLUTIONS FOR SUBIC BAY!”

NOW, THEREFORE, with the unanimous accord of the Members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod present;

RESOLVED, AS IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED, by the Sangguniang Panlungsod in session assembled expresses, as it hereby expresses the City Government of Olongapo’s objection to coal-fired power plants as an energy source and urging the proponent to consider safer alternative sources of energy for Subic Bay.

Let a copy of this resolution be furnished to the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Board of Directors Chairman Feliciano G. Salonga, Administrator Armand C. Arreza, Honorable Edralino P. Cajudo, Honorable Antonio Rex S. Chan, Honorable Ricardo L. Coscolluela, Honorable Angelita DJ. Cruz, Honorable Teodoro D. del Rosario, Hon. Ma. Angela S. Garcia, Honorable James G. Lorenzana, Honorable Jesus Vicente Magsaysay II, Honorable Leila Linao-Muñoz, Honorable, Ma. Victoria P. Pineda, Honorable Eddie U. Tamondong, Honorable Jennifer Khonghun-Ting, Honorable Secretary Lito Atienza of the DENR, Mr. Miguel Aboitiz of Aboitiz Energy, the Municipal Council of Subic, Zambales and the various socio-civic organizations of Olongapo, Zambales and Bataan for their information and record.

APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY, August 27, 2008.


CYNTHIA G. CAJUDO
City Vice-Mayor & Presiding Officer


GINA GULANES-PEREZ JOHN CARLOS G. DELOS REYES
City Councilor City Councilor

RODEL S. CEREZO SARAH LUGERNA LIPUMANO-GARCIA
City Councilor City Councilor

EDWIN J. PIANO ANGELITO W. BALOY
City Councilor City Councilor
AQUILINO Y. CORTEZ, JR ANSELMO A. AQUINO
City Councilor City Councilor


ELENA C. DABU JONATHAN G. MANALO
City Councilor City Councilor


CARLITO A. BALOY CHEENEE F. HOYA
President, Liga ng mga Barangay SK Federation President


ATTEST:

ELFLIDA S. SALMON
Council Secretary


APPROVED BY HIS HONOR, THE CITY MAYOR ON______________________.


JAMES GORDON, JR.
City Mayor

ATTEST:

DELFIN A. JUICO, JR.
Secretary to the City Mayor