Random Thoughts

By November 7, 2016Opinion, Random Thoughts

ANOTHER COAL-FIRED PLANT?  We doff our hat to President Rodrigo Duterte for saying ‘no’ to the revival of the mothballed Bataan Nuclear Power Plant as proposed by some sectors including our former Cong. Mark Cojuangco, the chief exponent of this idea ever since he was in Congress and even in private life.

He didn’t have second thoughts closing the door on the proposal because he saw the serious risks that a revived plant may pose to the Filipinos, especially people around the plant in Morong, Bataan, which is only a few miles away from Metro Manila across the Manila Bay.

Some shallow minds think the BNPP is the lone panacea to solve our current power crisis even at the expense of people’s health, to serve their real profit agenda.

For all the health and life risks, the plant can only generate 600 megawatts which is not even sufficient to supply the power needs of Metro Manila today, so why even bother considering it?

Clearly, the President does not want to compromise the health of the Filipino people and of the next generation who will be severely affected in case of a nuclear leak or a meltdown, like what happened at Chernobyl, Ukraine, and at Fukishima, Japan.

Then, there is the plan to put up a second coal-fired power plant in Sual that will have a capacity of 900 megawatts, when in fact the town is already hosting the 1,218 megawatt coal-fired power plant currently being operated by Team Energy.

Isn’t this too much for a small town to bear? The Save Sual Movement asks.

Remember that we also already have the San Roque Multipurpose project, capable of generating more than 400 megawatts at its peak of operations.

We are neither pro or against the establishment of a new coal-fired power plant in Sual, but we too have to ask: Is there no other place in the Philippines where coal-fired power plants can be established, other than Pangasinan?

The province should not monopolize coal-fired power plants, a technology dubbed no less by the Greenpeace International  as “unclean and unsafe”.

Are we prepared to risk the health of the next generations of Filipinos for corporate greed?

Sual Mayor Robert Arcinue regaled President Duterte to Sual with this new development in his town last Nov. 2 but the latter seemed not interested.

Is it possible he’s also against another coal-fired plant in Sual? – Leonardo Micua

 

MURDERS ON THE RISE. On our way to Sual town last Wednesday to cover the visit of President Duterte, we received a report that a former municipal employee by the name of Bernabe Samson was gunned down in Urbiztondo town.

We met the guy only once during the campaign period. We interviewed him and his wife after he was allegedly punched by a top leader of the town. He showed us his bruises and contusions. We were appalled. Payat siya at matanda na tapos nakakatikim pa ng bugbog.

Mang Abe filed case against that official. Only a few months have passed, and now he’s dead, killed by unidentified hitmen. Who did or ordered the killing? Without the answers, his death sent chills up our spine.

Mang Abe was an ordinary employee assigned at the public market. Someone said there had been attempts on his life in the past. Then he met his end last Wednesday.

But Mang Abe’s killing is just one of the many we know of today. Murder statistics are increasing but suspects are scot-free.

Worse, if one is killed today, many are quick to conclude that the motive was drugs.

Mang Abe was no town hero, too, as far as we know and we are not pointing an accusing finger to the respondent in Mang Abe’s complaint as the possible culprit behind his murder. No, that’s far from our mind.

Bahala na lang ang konsensiyang umusig kung sino man siya.

The increasing number of deaths today cannot but make one feel that one is not safe.

Drug-related or not, the killers are unstoppable. —Tita Roces

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