Newsgroups: bit.listserv.seasia-l
Date:         Thu, 30 Jul 1992 17:42:15 PDT
From:         "Indonesia Publications/Task Force" <apakabar@IGC.APC.ORG>
Subject:      PH: Projects Displace People
X-To:         seasia-l@msu.edu

/* Written 10:26 am  Jul 30, 1992 by gn:geonet in cdp:geo2.philippin */
/* ---------- "COMMUNITIES VS. ENERGY PROJECTS" ---------- */
Subject: COMMUNITIES VS. ENERGY PROJECTS
From: GEO2:NEWSSERV-PHIL
Date: 30-07-92, 08:25:14
To: PHILIPPINES
Cc: UUCP:JAGDISH@CHASQUE.APC.ORG

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Philippine News and Features
International Dispatch No. 14
July 29, 1992
----------------------------------------
Coal-fired plants
THOUSANDS TO BE DISPLACED IN ENERGY PROJECTS
MANILA (PNF) -- At least 4,000 individuals will need to be
relocated to clear the way for new coal-fired thermal plants in
Luzon.
Government officials however, dismissed fears that
communities will be left to fend for themselves.
Roy Paje, an official of the Community Relations and
Settlements Group (CRSG) of the National Power Corporation,
told PNF that measures are being installed to mitigate the
plants' adverse effects on surrounding communities.
Data from Napocor's CRSG show that at least 707 families
will be displaced because of the coal-fired plants. Napocor
records show that some 60 families will have to be relocated
from Masinloc, Zambales; at least 105 families from Sual,
Pangasinan; 227 in Pagbilao, Quezon; and, another 315 in
Calaca, Batangas. At an average of six members per family, the
number of those to be relocated could reach 4,242.
Over the weekend, more than a hundred non-government
organizations called for a moratorium on the development of
controversial power plants.
At least P7 million is needed to build low-cost homes and
create job opportunities for those displaced.
Meanwhile residents of Calaca, Pagbilao, Masinloc, and
Sual are skeptical. "We have very good reasons to worry that
the Napocor could not take care of the residents' alternative
means of livelihood," says Polly Maranan, of the Philippine
Environmental Action Network.
Coal-fired plants earned a bad reputation here after
residents of Calaca town in Batangas complained of pollution.
Twenty-seven families were immediately displaced by a plant in
there.
A second 300-MW coal plant is in the pipeline for Calaca
to shore up energy supplies. Other plants include Agus 1 in
Mindanao (80 MW, hydro), Bacon-Manito in the Bicol region (150
MW, geothermal), Palimpinon in Negros (80 MW, geothermal), Mt.
Apo in Mindanao (120 MW, geothermal); and a combined cycle
plant in Bataan (310 MW).
Paje assured that the families to be relocated will be
given other means of livelihood. "We have seen how the Chico
River Dam failed. Its social engineering design was weak," Paje
said.
He also pointed out that the Napocor has started community
development projects with private development agencies in some
areas.
A private organization working with displaced persons
estimates that P1 million (US$40,000) is needed for the
"physical rehabilitation" of 100 families.  This excludes the
cost of lost opportunities including the dislocation of
children from schools and other human costs.#
(Vinia M. Datinguinoo) Philippine News and Features
----------------------------------------
MORE ON August 3, 1992.
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