Thursday, September 27, 2012

Energy Econ 8: More Intolerance by the Anti-Coal Camp

The construction of a coal terminal leading to a coal power plant in Cadiz City, Negros Occidental continues to evoke debates and emotionalism. There are two main protagonists there. One is the City government itself which supported and helped facilitate the entry of the power plant. The other is the Cadiznon Kontra Coal (CKZ). Both have facebook groups below.


Based on my engagement with them, I can say that both groups have the latter has shown high intolerance when you question them or you show non-alliance with them. I have proof for saying this.

On the CKZ, there is that attitude full of angst and anger, the attack is personal, on anyone who show support for a coal power plant. See my two compilation of debate with these guys,

The first is 15 pages long while the second is 23 pages.

This compilation is equally long, about 16 pages including the 3 photos.

On the City government, I wrote them a letter last Tuesday, September 25 and posted in their fb group, below:

Hon. Patrick Escalante
Mayor, Cadiz City 


Dear Mayor Escalante,


In the Cadizmycitymyhome fb group, a certain Ariel Deriada said that "coal terminal in tinampaan, the project developer already acquired ECC in less than a month and had finished building concrete walls around the land where it will be built.there was no public hearing.... inland coal terminal application for ECC frm the emb was received march 3, 2012--it was approved april 11, 2012."


How true are these statements? 


I am pro-coal, also pro-nuke, pro-geothermal, pro-natural gas, pro-hydro, etc. but I also believe that all the requirements by the national government such as an ECC and passing the EIA should be complied with. 


Where can we see the results of the EIA? Can you make it available online? 


Lack of transparency causes more public cynicism and skepticism, and fuels often unnecessary opposition. I hope the City government can be more transparent about this issue.


Thank you very much.


Sincerely yours,


Bienvenido "Nonoy" Oplas, Jr.
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Today, I checked the City Information Office's facebook group to see if they already replied to my letter -- there was nothing, and my letter is nowhere to be seen too. They removed it. Clear censorship.
I was happy to see that the Mayor has responded. He wrote,


Thanks noy for the letter. If your late brother, former councilor, Atty Nestor was around, he would have sided with you. Anyway you could either be pro or anti coal power,the bottom line is will these bring more good or harm to our city. Ive been to the cities were these plants exist, talked to the people and their local governments, health officials, businessmen, et al., the more reason I believe that this project is viable and would help our city tremendously as I have obseved. The ECC and EIA were issued by the DENR to the project proponent to the coal terminal at brgy tinampaan. I will secure a copy and give it to you or post it online in this site. Thanks a lot for your understanding. Regards to you and your family.


So you have a case of two intolerant groups displaying different types of intolerance. Many (but not all) CKZ guys will launch a barrage of personal attacks and insults to people who show support for a coal power plant even if the project is supposed to hurdle the established environmental requirements of the government. It is difficult to argue on substance, numbers and statistics because below the belt attacks will always come up.

On the other hand, the City government does not launch personal attacks, at least to me, or none that I am aware of. They did not ridicule me and my letter in their facebook, they simply removed my letter.

So the public I think, cannot trust both camps should be more wary of the anti camp. You have a bunch of fanatics who say "No to Coal, period" No prolonged debates will be entertained as personal attacks are longer than discussion on substance and data. Of course there can be fanatics on the other side too who can say, "Yes to Coal, period" even if a coal power project has not hurdled certain environmental and health requirements. But I did not see pro-coal fanatics in the debates, I only saw the anti-coal fanatics.

Below are the photos of the environmental clearance certificate (ECC) that was issued to the coal power plant proponent. It is posted in the CKZ group. Some guys there are doing their research work more intelligently than the rest.



I would like to be more kind to people who frequently resort to launching personal attacks against people who do not share with their belief, and will just call them as NON-idiots but frequently blurt out idiotic and emotional comments against people whose views are diametrically opposed to them.

Have patience with another long discourse below. 

Cheers.
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September 24-26, 2012

Nonoy Oplas
Daw medyo maluwag na sa trabaho, diskurso ulit, although this is not directly related to the CFPP in Cadiz. Waay lang personal attacks ha, counting on Lar Collins Benitez to remind people to focus on the issue. About 11 pages man lang ni, http://funwithgovernment.blogspot.com/2012/09/energy-econ-7-renewables-fit-rps-and.html
Government and Taxes: Energy Econ 7: Renewables, FIT, RPS and Climate

KZ Concepcion ?? No thanks..it's too boring..

Ariel Deriada Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Milrose Villarino Deriada ngooooooorrrrrrkkkkkkkkk! hohummmmmmmmmmm....

Lorelie V. Garrucha CLAPPING HANDS... to Nonoy Oplas comMents...have to take care of the kids now,thanks... can you PLEASE extend YOUR caring to all the kids and future kids of CADIZNON PO?THANKS DIN PO...

Edda S Sumbi Nonoy Oplas--Sir, you mentioned here about the decrease in earth's temp despite an increase in co2 conc. From what I know, the decrease in temp is due to climate change, because more co2 emissions changes precipitation patterns, eg. is la nina phenomenon. Gasige ang ulan kag subong man ang nagakalatunaw nga ice caps ang mga daku nga rason nga nakapabugnaw sa kalibutan. Lately, maski PAGASA naga wonder sa amount sang rainfall. I admit I'm not as knowledgeable as you are, I'm only sharing the little that I know of. And since gina encourage mo kami basahon imo link, pls take time to read man the links some of us have shared here esp about health hazards kay as a mother, health is of my primary concern. Manabon gani ta ilong para indi ta kahaklo aso halin sa salakyan, ang aso pa ayhan halin sa coal plant?

TessBench Medado Palma Aguy karon pa guid ka basa tanan inyo comment nag roll call c Nonoy Oplas wala ko kabati. Hehe! sori noy!

I may not be as knowledgeable as you Noy and all that are really against this Coal but in my liitle knowledge I'm also sharing that there's an alternative but the prob the City did not opted for that or they may not known that or no one offered it what ever the reason they are only one that knew the real reason . All of u you had it's point n dats the reason that it seems u want to eat each other baw cguro if nag atubangay kamo nag gan itanay na kamo buhok! Hehe! Sa tanan kalma lang .

As what I always say we can settle this or debate in a very professional way bcoz after all we are still all are Cadiznon. We must show to our fellow constituents that we can talk over this matter objective and don't be subjective. Pls pls lang para mag maayo pa guid aton discussion dire let's argue in a civil way. Is it ok for all?

Norberto Real Attn: Nonoy Oplas, Greetings from Norberto G Real Have a Nice Day Sir! May I invite you to watch Prout Economics 1 and 2? See posted here. Thanks. God Bless!

TessBench Medado Palma Ay mga ininglis ta guid tago dira sa aton fb naga guwa

Nonoy Oplas Thanks for the comments. For those with little patience, or even little mental capacity to engage serious discourse where hard data, info and no personal attacks are employed to advance an argument, such discourse is indeed booorriingg, waay nada. My sympathy.

Thanks Edda. Health and pollution is a universal concern -- from emissions from tricycles, jeepneys, buses, factories, sugarcane leaves burned, coal power, etc. As of 2010, 34.4 percent of the entire Philippines power generation came from coal, I did not see or hear people covering their noses too hard in Sual Pangasinan, in Pagbilao Quezon, in Masinloc Zambales, in Naga Cebu, others where coal power plants are existing. So I think the health hazards of coal is simply exaggerated by propagandists and ideologues who simply oppose coal and want to celebrate an Earth Hour everyday whenever possible.

Thanks Tess. I posted the above link to also show that a long, sustained discourse and debate can happen with zero personal attacks. Civil discourse and tolerance demands it. People can shoot a message but not a messanger. The former can stay for generations or centuries but the messanger can change his/her position after sometime.

Happy Jhee GGRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!! PASIKAT ka lang sa BLOG MO!!! Guys dont waste your time it's all nothing but a baloney!! ;-(

Nonoy Oplas Oh, you're not happy. You're sad and angry. There is a solution to that. Start a blog too, you can write whatever you want, gives you freedom of expanded self expression, and also the responsibility to defend your ideas to your readers. Shows also how people can practice tolerance or intolerance to other views that do not conform with theirs. Energy is an important issue. Having an Earth Hour everyday is being practiced in many parts of North Korea, Laos, Congo and Zimbabwe, and I don't think many people would like to live in that situation.

(A post here by Iyah Michaela Ante said "ang tawag sina SAKON" (greedy) which she later removed)

Nonoy Oplas Ara na, sugod na mga personal attacks. What else to come, dalok-dalok, gago, mango,...? Some guys are really incapable of intelligent discourses, only lowly personal attacks. If you don't agree with them, you are evil, devil, heartless, while they are the angels and bleeding hearts.

Iyah Michaela Ante ay pasensya nagtalang ang akon comment

Busta Sunny Nonoy Oplas, hi! this is very interesting issue that we all had different views and opinions. your discussions with your friend was a big picture of the involvement of different sectors in our society.In my own simple understanding this boils down to Political Power. This is UNIVERSAL ISSUE .Yes,as part of the consumers of number one needs ENERGY. We have integral parts of our AGING Mother Earth,she cannot sustain our needs, and what our tiny CADIZ can offer isn't enough .So, is COAL the ultimate answers?There's a long list to discuss so as ,so little time given to our Kasimanwa.With Cadiz so small and so little resources , i guess it needs to put to the table to talk about first.Everybody is involve, Millennial, GenXers,Under 14, Over 65,Boomers,this way we all can come up of better solutions. My whims that our elected officials has a positive agenda before harboring for office.Of course being in Power has so much to offer of benefits especially Wealth and other sidetrack protections. I'll be hypocrite if nothing ever happened. Those agency you had discuss with your friend has political involvement one way or another.Everyone can trace it.Yet, i am not in favor that CFPP to my Buriring Island. I may not experience the Glory or Downfall by Coal Power but,i have some reasons ....thank you.

Nonoy Oplas His Busta, I like your reply. We disagree, yet zero personal attacks, as name calling has been the rule and not the exception, in previous exchanges in this group, cheers. I will repeat what I have said in previous discourses here. I am pro-nuke, pro-geothermal, pro-natural gas, pro-shale gas, pro-coal, pro-hydro. I am also pro-solar, pro-wind, pro-biomass, provided that these renewables are put up with zero subsidies and mandatory energy price hikes. So, let any or all of those power sources come in. Let them compete for public support and electricity consumers.

But in the absence of any or all other power plants coming in aside from coal, let that power source be given a chance to public scrutiny in terms of having passed the EIA and other compliance. A hard line "No Coal period" argument will court or invite a daily "earth hour" someday. You do not put up a power plant from whatever source, when the brown outs already happen. You do it at least 3 years before, the lead time to go through the process of securing an EIA, getting community approval, building and commissioning a power plant.

Happy Jhee Ara na, sugod na mga personal attacks. What else to come, dalok-dalok, gago, mango,...? Hmmmmmmmm i think may tama ka dyan sa part na yan!!!! :-)

Nonoy Oplas I will post all comments in this thread in another blog post. So all tolerant and intolerant minds and people can be shown, cheers.

Busta Sunny Yes,Nonoy Oplas everyone are entitled to address to what they learned and had experienced. in some ways i saw the common denominator of all this...Business. wish we all be united to come -up of something that we forever don't have that trace of dissatisfaction to each other even to our grave. this is a cycle of life that we need to get involve Morally,Financially, Socially, obligations that i wish we respect the life to LIVE longer and Happy..regards.

Happy Jhee CHEERS! CHEERSS !! CHEERSSS !!! CHEERSSSS !!!!

Nonoy Oplas Yes Busta. It's all about business -- the business of education, healthcare, raising a family, street lighting and minimize evening crimes and accidents, and so on. That is how important more electricity is to our lives. Even the most health conscious physicians and environmentalists cannot take care of the sick properly if there is no electricity to power the emergency rooms.

Busta Sunny Yet,Nonoy Oplas we need to weigh things first.as long as the people are fully aware and deep in their heart are ready,Why not? the concerns here in our Dear Cadiz was the few only know the real score. Even if you are Pro or Against ,quick response Lutong Macao,can we blame them? No, of course it will magnify to all little actions to whoever keep it under wrap for themselves. Human nature that we brought it to ourselves.if it is openly discuss ,both parties will eventually agree....

Busta Sunny add on Nonoy Oplas a satisfied constituents will bring 12 folds of business to Cadiz, but a dissatisfied one, will bring none or max to 4 only. we push them away.....ditto.

Nonoy Oplas Yes, that was my point even at the start. If the Cadiz City government and the power plant owner lacked transparency, made shortcuts and did not comply with the EIA and other requirements, that power plant should be STOPPED. There are rules to follow set by the government itself, and if an LGU would not comply with those rules, national laws should prevail over local laws. So the main issue is compliance with EIA requirements or not, and not Coal or "No Coal period" argument.

Norberto Real Attn: Nonoy Oplas, hope you have watched Prout Economics I & 2, also the Neo-Humanism you can do it to the same link. Thanks. Have a Nice day my friend. Gob Bless Cadiz City and All the Cadiznons too.

Ariel Deriada how about the coal terminal in tinampaan? the project developer already acquired ECC in less than a month and had finished building concrete walls around the land where it will be built.there was no public hearing.do u think this termninal shld b stopped? you think d city was transparent enough?

TessBench Medado Palma pls pls lang argue in a civil way no name calling. we are given priviliged to express what in our heart but refraim using insulting words. peace to all!

Ariel Deriada inland coal terminal application for ECC frm the emb was received march 3, 2012--it was approved april 11, 2012. wow ang bilis!
No coal period argument is more reasonable than self-proclaimed-expert-for-cash reasoning

Nonoy Oplas Ariel, these details I do not know, thank you for bringing them up. This is something that I or anyone can raise to the City Mayor. If your statements that (a) there was no public ...See More

Nonoy Oplas This is my letter to the Mayor, posted in the City Information Center, Cadiz City, sent a minute ago:

Hon. Patrick Escalante
Mayor, Cadiz City

Dear Mayor Escalante, In the Cadizmycitymyhome fb group, a certain Ariel Deriada said that "coal terminal in tinampaan, the project developer already acquired ECC in less than a month and had finished building concrete walls around the land where it will be built.there was no public hearing.... inland coal terminal application for ECC frm the emb was received march 3, 2012--it was approved april 11, 2012."

How true are these statements? I am pro-coal, also pro-nuke, pro-geothermal, pro-natural gas, pro-hydro, etc. but I also believe that all the requirements by the national government such as an ECC and passing the EIA should be complied with. 

Where can we see the results of the EIA? Can you make it available online?

Lack of transparency causes more public cynicism and skepticism, and fuels often unnecessary opposition. I hope the City government can be more transparent about this issue. Thank you very much.

Sincerely yours,

Bienvenido "Nonoy" Oplas, Jr.

Jason Escalona Ibanez That is a great letter. To contribute to this, I will be sending letters to GMA news network and ABS-CBN about these ECC issue specifically Ted Failon and Kris Aquino. I believe Ms...See More

Nonoy Oplas Right, people should be more constructive and less emotional. Demand that things should be made as transparently as possible, avoid sloganeering and fanaticism. It is also important that they show their real names so they can write constructive letters. If the Cadiz City government will not reply to my letter, I have my own reason in criticizing them later, even if I am pro-coal.

Jason Escalona Ibanez I cannot speak for people who are keyboard warriors. I cannot speak for People who hide under pen names for whatever reason. But I assure you that I am who I say I am and to get to the bottom of this issue I think it is best that reputable news organizations and media men should get involve.

TessBench Medado Palma We need to pacify ky i understand that if we are in high emotion we tend to say things not meant to be. But im really happy lain na cadiznon karon palaban na!
Ariel Deriada we will wait for the new Expose. Abangan!

Busta Sunny Human rights should be practice so power won't reign forever. Equal opportunity.

TessBench Medado Palma kaya we encourage to share ma pro or anti ka man but u have to understand there will be someone dat will not agree with but this is democracy. Argue lang sa topic wala lang initay ulo.

Milrose Villarino Deriada Kanami gali kn me gna-fight ka, especially kn ara ka sa side sg kamatuoran,,

Nonoy Oplas Ariel, please send it to minimalgovernment@gmail.com, thanks. Tess, it's always good that the moderators are visible and continue to remind people to stick to the issues. Sooo many issues around the world, debates and disagreement are 101 percent to occur. So the demand for all is how to practice tolerance, to co-exist with people and groups whose ideas and belief are 180 deg opposite to theirs, and forum moderators or other types of referees, or government at the macro level, are there to lay down rules by which members should abide by, otherwise they should opt out somewhere else.

I shall give the Mayor's office possibly two days to reply to my letter to them. A reply or non-reply from them, I will still write and blog. Thanks.

Ariel Deriada Nonoy Oplas it's already posted at CKC page and shared to some links 16 hours ago · Edited · Like Ariel Deriada Nonoy Oplashttps://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.371652006244265.89624.365879320154867&type=1

Agnes Villarino-agudaña i hope that what u have just found out Mr Nonoy Oplas will shed light to your understanding of why CKC has stepped up and forward to strongly campaign against CFPP. i appreciate that u, being a highly educated Cadiznon, has kept your mind open. please do keep an open ear and mind and heart. this issue is not hard to understand at all.

Busta Sunny Yes,Nonoy Oplas we need to co-exist, it won't be a better world at all.That's what we keep stronger &tougher. Age doesn't matter for a right directions. We share &learn. Thanks.

Agnes Villarino-agudaña let me point out though mr. Nonoy Oplas that on your letter to the mayor, i think you should've properly given Ariel Deriada some respect and substance by referring to him as one of the members of CKC instead. to say that a certain so and so said this doesn't give ur data and query much credibility. that would've also sent out an alarm to the mayor that there is such an organized group as CKC and that this group does research and does mean business big time!

TessBench Medado Palma Agnes I think Mayor knows the existence of CKC.

Nonoy Oplas Agnes, write your own letter to the Mayor. Do not dictate to other people how they should write their own letter. I do not know the officers of CKC, I only heard of Ariel when he commented in this thread as I do not read all threads in this group. Or you have burned enough bridges that you cannot even write a constructive letter to the Mayor by yourself? Do it.

Agnes Villarino-agudaña with due respect Mr. Oplas i did not mean to dictate you as to what u should've written on that letter. i only expressed what i thought would've been fair. and if u have failed to ...See More

Ariel Deriada hahaha why not ask mai escalante he s ur friend, in the 1st place, and tinampaan is his own brgy.

Tiny Bee Nan, ti very transparent in fairness very unfair gid. Kung makabanat sya pa simple lng kung sya ang banatan dayon ka reklamo ay susme! Gusto nya lang basahon ang blog nya kag sya ya selective reading! Gapangita sya ngalan sang tawo dason ang may ngalan himuon nya lng so and so kesyo dihado ang panig nya... Sus ah

KZ Concepcion he sees himself a perfect man, gusto nya sya lng ang korek..indi sya gusto banatan pero sya ang gauna-una..tsk..tsk..nonsense ang mgsige basa sng iya blog..let's boycot nlang his b...See More

Margaux Abalos @ta ags - dont stoop down. he raised a good point that we can write the mayor ourselves aside from our petition via ckc. besides we can write better our concerns. we can do this by...See More

Tiny Bee Soaring high gid sya feeling nya hahaha kaluoy man.... Daw sya lng ang maayo magsulat kag daw sya lang ya ang maalam.... Nahikay nlang gid sya ya sa aton... Dayon pa kapamahug nga ...See More

indi na ta mag comment sa post sang ksp nga alam alam nga ini kay kung ma criticize ka sa bias nya nga pag sulat gina high blood sya hahaha sign gid ini sang bilib sa sarili to the...See More

Nonoy Oplas These are examples why in general, the anti coal camp is good in sloganeering but lousy in substantial discourse. They keep hitting anyone who do not parrot their belief. Tolerance of an opposing view is a strange concept for them. News and blog articles that sing halleluiah to anti coal are proudly announced and posted, news and blogs that don't sing alleluiah are personally attacked. TessBench Medado Palma, your call....

Edda Salcedo Sumbi Nonoy Oplas-wiith all due respect Sir, many times I was tempted to bemock you in return because it's either you have taken my comment literally, or you taunted me intentionally. Nevertheless, I opted not to, because of my age. As you get older, you are expected to be more tolerant, broad minded, soft and humble enough to accept suggestions and criticisms. And you're supposed to be older than me and yet, you're reacting to the tiniest provocations you threat everyone here by using and exposing them in your blog. What for? So that you can get your readers' sympathy & praise because you maintained your elegance while these persons here with "little mental capacity" as you call us are attacking you? Frankly Mr. Oplas, I too, found your reply to Ariel Deriada, as if you are threatening him when you said that you'll mention his name in your letter to the mayor. Pero gani, kay tungod TIGULANG na ako, I kept my silence. I have actually started to like you when you began to coordinate with the ckc group about ecc. I recognize I am not in any way matched with your intelligence but I feel that somehow, you need some slapping to make you see that I find you an arrogant person. When you described yourself as pro-nuke, pro-coal, pro-blah-blah-blah, gave me an impression that you are very liberal, one who welcomes any reactions from all sort of people. Sad to say, you have the mind of the dictator. I'm sorry Sir, I just feel that I have to let you know who I see that you are. Lastly, my mother (God rest her soul), she was a high school drop out (poverty reason), left me word of wisdom that I never forget to apply in my life, now I'm sharing it to you, "KON SIN-O ANG MAALAM, SYA ANG MAGHATAG SANG PANG INTYENDE, SYA ANG MAG PASENSYA" Peace, Sir Nonoy Oplas.

And oh, you are sooo good with reverse psychology. Unfortunately, nobody seemed to care.

TessBench Medado Palma Kalma! Bag o pa nag mata ang nag bantay inde kamo mag away ah! Sa tuod lang daw naham ot ako while reading inyo mg comments ky nagkita ang mga maalamon dire sa Cadiz sa dire sa CCH n kag ka mga isug.Hehe! Tanan kmo may punto n each one is trying to find ways nga diin my sala Isa para mka banat. Refraim words that would stir up emotion. Noy I'm sure wla naga dictate c Agnes ang appropriate word is recommend or suggest lang sya sa imo inde Lang pag laina interpret para wala away. Insakto man ka nga pwede man sya mag diretso write to the Mayor but say it nicely. Noy let's be united as one Cadiznon Kay ang aton real enemy Aton sa City Hall . Don't stress ur self in arguments toward each other ky guina kadlawan kita sang Aton real na kaaway. Cla kalma kaayo. Hear no evil, see no evil n speak no evil na cla . Kita ya naga ilinaway dire. Argue Lang kamo punto por punto or issue per issue. Ok ? Peace to all! Good day to all!

Wala guro sya nangakig dats how Mr. Oplas express himself through words nga daw akig kya if u have read told him to say it nicely.

As what I understand what Mr.Oplas is writing is his personal view n he don't have ny bzns or connection sa City Hall. Am I right Mr. Oplas?

Isaac Javier pardon me guys. 'just want this group to be objective in our stand. hitting below the belt will be our last option. if can expound this issue reasonably, then no below the belt pls

Save Cadiz Edda Salcedo Sumbi sulit2x lang na iya reverse psychology, flaming kag trolling... pag indi ya na kaya makipag debate point by point ma wangal na lang kag mag hibi sabay hambal sa ulihi na congratulation daug na kamu clap clap clap... te ano na klase na anu man? tingala kami ngaa patulan niyo pa ni nga topic nga inubra nya na naman... ano dapat himuon sa KSP kag desperado haw?! ........................ no comment! ;)

Tiny Bee Save Cadiz abi dayawa man bala kay grabe na ni nga baka baka nya sa causa nya nga mag nami ang blog nya hahaha gusto nya man ni nga pasalamatan sya kag daygon ang panulat nya hahaha kung ikaw bala indi ksp e dut dut mo gid da ang hinimo para lng mag agum sang super praise? Hay na ugot sya kay sya lng nagahakwat sg bangko nya hahaha mabilib na ko tani mo galing pirmi lng gapaapin kay na insulto ang mga panulat nya ya daw indi lng insulto hahaha in your own world - ikaw ang bida cheers!!! Palakpalakan lol

Iyah Michaela Ante oo na sige na ikaw na....hala na lng da nyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa....klap klap about

Geraldine Balandra CHEERS! ;)

Nonoy Oplas Hi Edda, no "threat" to Ariel. I found his earlier comments like "no public consultation, the ECC was released in just one month" as rather substantive and since I do not know those things, I need to point out my source when I wrote to the Mayor. Just giving credit and data source when it's due.

Hi Tess, Yes, I have ZERO business or professional interest in that coal terminal cum power plant in Cadiz. If you notice the title of my last blog post, I also attacked the City govt for censoring and removing my letter to the Mayor, which I consider as another form of intolerance. But someone wrote me that it's there, that it was not deleted, I have to check again.

I really wish that people can debate on the issue, not personalities. Like the content of the ECC and EIA -- are the various health and environmental concerns raised by the anti camp addressed by the ECC granted? Which ones are not addressed? What are the penalties for violations of environmental requirements? And so on. From the comments above, most were directed at me. They are stressed out if not angry that I can blog about the exchanges while they cannot.

As usual, daug mga antis ah, ti congrats, no hard feelings.

Btway, if people are reading my blog more carefully, my advocacy is LESS government, LESS politics, less bureaucracies, less taxes. There is no way for me to glamorize more government intervention in education, power generation and distribution, etc. In this case, I have pointed out several times in previous exchanges, that the so-called renewables are marked by heavy government or taxpayers' subsidies to make them "viable" because they are highly non viable commercially, here or abroad. That is why if people do not like coal power for whatever reason/s, the more constructive approach is to invite other players who can produce other power sources like geothermal, hydro, natural gas, others that do not mean even more expensive electricity for the public. In the absence of such players coming to Cadiz or anywhere in Negros, then people I think, must stick to assessing the ECC granted by the DENR, any shortcuts made by the power proponent and the city government.

For the moment, I am convinced that both the power proponent and the city government are NOT transparent and may have made some shortcuts in the approval process of the ECC and EIA. It should be easy to put those info online, say in the City Information Center facebook page, in their official website, or website of the power proponent, but these info are non-available, nada. May tinatago?

Nonoy Oplas Neil Ortaliz Pedrosa you asked somewhere in this fb group "ngaa wala ni ginpatukod sa Pulupandan, Bago, San Carlos and Bacolod? Wala pa ina ginsabat ni Nonoy Oplas and Mai Escalante. Tapos ang Cadiz daw nagharahara mapatukod sini nga Coal Plant."

Well, I also do not know the answer. I am not involved in anyway with any power company -- coal, wind, solar, hydro, nuke, geothermal, nat gas, etc. And I am not involved with any government agency, national or local. I think people are getting more confused here. Anyone who supports a particular power generation project is assumed to be involved with such company or government. Since I also support nuke, geothermal, natural gas, shale gas, hydro other than coal, if company X will put up a nuke plant in municipality Y, do people assume that I should know why it's put up there and not anywhere else?

Nonoy Oplas I checked the fb group of the City Information Center, my letter was indeed NOT removed, my apologies to the site administrator. I saw the Mayor's reply, he wrote:

Patrick Escalante Thanks noy for the letter. If your late brother, former councilor, Atty Nestor was around, he would have sided with you. Anyway you could either be pro or anti coal power,the bottom line is will these bring more good or harm to our city. Ive been to the cities were these plants exist, talked to the people and their local governments, health officials, businessmen, et al., the more reason I believe that this project is viable and would help our city tremendously as I have obseved. The ECC and EIA were issued by the DENR to the project proponent to the coal terminal at brgy tinampaan. I will secure a copy and give it to you or post it online in this site. Thanks a lot for your understanding. Regards to you and your family.
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See above, the antis are dominated by a few hard core fanatics who cannot seem to focus on the issue and repeatedly direct their anger at me or anyone who does not sing alleluiah to their belief. Well, my sympathy for them, I am not returning the favor and launch a series of counter personal attacks. Only lowly minds should be able to sustain such attitude.  

See also:
Fat-Free Econ 16: Coal, Climate and Government, July 17, 2012
Energy Econ 4: Oil Prices and Taxes, August 27, 2012
Energy Econ 7: Renewables, FIT, RPS and Climate, September 24, 2012

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