Balingasag’s Coal-Power Plant: Indicator of Economic

 Development and Progress, or What?

The Place - Its Location, History, Resources and Aspirations:

The town I am referring to is Balingasag, my hometown. Topographically, it is located in the northern Mindanao in the province of Misamis Oriental; and is 50 kilometers East from the capital city of Cagayan de Oro. It fronted the Macajalar Bay to the West, closer to a hundred kilometres to the International Airport in Laguindingan by road and approximately an hour and a half away by banca or pumpboat on a cruise across the Macajalar Bay; and about thirty kilometres to the southwest from the International Container Port at PHIVIDEC Estate in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental.

Balingasag has the widest plains in the province, or maybe just next to Gingoog City; and it is best suited to rice farming. In fact by accident there is now a cross-pollinated variety called the “Red 18” or popularly called as “Balingasag rice” that is endemic here only. Red 18 is never certified as a hybrid variety by the International Rice Research Institute at Luz Baños because it does not come out from them, but just sprouted through the course of nature as birds, bees and other insects carried their pollen grains. The certified hybrid variety is IRR 18-white rice and the cross-pollinated variety is red rice or Balingasag rice.

In the market, “Balingasag Rice or Red 18” commands a higher-price per sack in comparison with the imported varieties because it is regarded by some or maybe almost by everyone that it has low sugar content and good for diabetes mellitus patients, or whatever their reasons maybe. [For me the Red 18 could not be adulterated unlike white rice where a well-polished and newly milled rice could be mixed with inferior white varieties, and seemingly it looks the same as if unadulterated, so it could still retain its higher price being “first class”.]

Moreover, Balingasag on the point of views of geologists, is said in their most logical explanations or conjectures that the wide-plains of Balingasag may have been attributed or formed by volcanic interventions occurring millions of years ago that pushed the ground or soil to move further onward, thus covering or backfilling small bodies of water even maybe affecting the seas thereby elongating the outline of the low-tide because of huge mass, which backfilled the area which once was water.[1]  So, if one has the luxury of riding a chopper or just be at some vantage point like having strolled on a high mountain, one would significantly notice that from Punta Gorda in the south-west up to Point Kauswagan to the north-east, Balingasag’s lowland ground formation looks like an alluvial fan. Indeed, its shape is like my grandmother’s old “buli-made fan”.      

Its mountain range the Balatukan, is the highest in the northern part of Mindanao, excluding off course, Mt. Dulang-dulang in the Kitanglad Range which is next to Mt. Apo in elevation. The forest in the northeast and southeast areas of the Balatukan almost were denuded by logging activities early in 1954 up to 1970, and fortunately by now have been rehabilitated due to the insistence and safeguard of IP’s because partly they said these are part of their ancestral lands.[2] If by concept it has been protected and conserved, the promise of some good bounty of minerals if explored and backfilling materials could always be there.

The Balatukan River emanating from the Baligwagan areas off the Anahaw Mountains, the Sumolao River from the Bayotao Mountains; and the Camuayan River, which is located further southeast of the town, all these rivers supplied sufficient water to the community; and sometimes they are life threatening because of the fury of their strong flooding that certainly could harm not only people, but as well as livestock and properties.

Not counting the weak points of the place, the town hungers for development because it has also some good resources to offer like aggregates and backfilling materials;  track of lands i.e. alienable and disposable; electricity MORESCO II; and never-ending manpower resource either for the white collar or blue collar jobs.

Balingasag is an agricultural town till today. Out of the thirty barangays, six are urban and along the coast, and the national highway; seven more are along the national highways and are fronting the coastal areas as well; and the rest are either in the wide agricultural plains or away from the coasts, or those in the highlands. 

So conservatively, there are about 8 or 9 barangays which are involved not only in agriculture but as well in fishing.[3]  As a town with a population of 70,000 thousand people and still counting, it is the highest among the 23 towns of Misamis Oriental according to the latest census on population in 2010 conducted by Philippine Statistics Authority formerly National Statistics Office, excluding of course, the two cities of Gingoog and Cagayan de Oro.[4]

Furthermore, it is a town that had been able to nurture the evangelization works of the Spanish Recollects in the early 19^th century then followed by the Spanish Jesuits in 1877 with Fr. Gregorio Parache, SJ as the first Jesuit Missionary to Balingasag. Recollects missionaries had stayed in Balingasag from 1849 when it became a regular parish until 1877 when the Jesuits came.[5]

As a town, she dreams not only for the glory that she has now as the educational center for the nearby towns in East Misamis Oriental, because she has three colleges, but rather keeps on looking forward for her economic development – full development of her agricultural capabilities and potentials, or on labor intensive light-industry, which would not alter her attributes as a town since the Spaniards had first noted it even as early as January 25, 1571 when Adelantado Miguel Legaspi granted Gompot or Balingasag to Don Juan Griego as an encomienda.[6]

[For more readings, please visit Rex R. Valmores, Blogspot @ yahoo “Conjecture: How Christianity Started in the Native Settlement of Gompot (Balingasag), published on May 30, 2014.]

Initial Developments:

Common peoples’ perception of town development could not be reconciled on how many Planning Books and, Blueprints and Maps are there available for them to read, or see, which government could provide them. But people could easily understand what economic development is, whenever they would be able to feel the trickling effects it may bring to them as they may comparatively place it in practically in terms of their easiness or chances to earn money on whatever legal sources they may do to earn, so they may eat well at least three square meals a day; as well as their affordability to send their children to higher learning – college and provide them other things aside from the basic necessity.

Other indicators such as on how business is going on in town – the rise of commercial buildings and establishments; the movement of goods in and out of town, or supply and demand; efficiency of health care and sanitation programs; peace and order; and so on are not discounted as sound indicators of development; nevertheless, they do not necessary also mean that they have already uplifted or addressed the common people’s quality of life. Other practical views on the concept of development, demands that it must try to uplift the lives and well-being of the common people in all dimensions and parameters present in the word development.

So, a short street language goes on and it says, “The shortest way, common people understand what economic growth and development is all about, is their inability not to experience hunger.” So simple for simple people, when there is money for food – for the basic things in life, to them economic growth is clear; and there is no need for them to know the equation how to arrive on the formula of GNP, or entertain the concept of per capita income in Economics.

It is nice the Local Government have seen and recognized the welfare of the people as a priority need in its mission and vision.

a.      With DMPI.

The town’s first massive commercial agricultural growth or development occurred when Del Monte Philippines Incorporated – General Crops Division came in 1975 to plant papaya, passion fruit and cucumber for their cannery at Bugo, Cagayan de Oro City. Not much longer, DMPI Banana Crops got in too for the DMPI’s fresh fruit exportation and for the cannery. 

Vast hectares of agricultural lands were leased by their owners to DMPI for ten years; and agri-lands from Lagonglong were likewise utilized. Barangay Cogon for Balingasag and Kauswagan for Lagonglong were two big growth areas. Business was good in these areas, people who were employed at DMPI had the ability to buy what they needed including even those they wanted like quadro-sound stereos, TV sets, double-door refrigerators or chest freezers, or sent their children to exclusive schools.

Business activity in town was good, the price of fish in the market usually just sky-rocketed during paydays of DMPI.

Nevertheless, the days of abundance came to a halt after the company leasehold agreements with the landowners expired. The owners wanted to renew the lease contract to a higher price per hectare than the first leasehold agreement. On the part of DMPI, they had a hard time negotiating with the owners because agricultural lands are owned marginally by people and not just by few families, or on hacienda type, but by many.

Likewise, DMPI Banana - Farmingtown Agri-Developers the subsidiary of DMPI closed and they transferred in Davao del Norte. Many farm workers from Balingasag and Lagonglong went with the company to the new opened area. 

After the closure of the agri-leased farms of DMPI sometime in 1988, a new scheme emerged and it is the Papaya Fruit Contract Growing. Today, the program is still on, growers supply DMPI with set tonnage of fruits and sold at fixed per kilo as stipulated in the contract. Extension of contract is a prerogative of DMPI given to growers after the completion of their two-year fruit or crop season.

Another fruit growing contract offered by DMPI is pineapple growing. However, few growers ventured on this kind of farming at Barangays Linabo and San Juan; and they now had stopped.

b.      Prawn and Tropical Fish Farming.

Development of a 28-hectare agricultural land into an aqua farm in coastal area of Barangay Mandangoa started in 1988; despite, acquisition of parcels of land were undertaken in 1987 yet.

PACO was the company’s name and it was owned by the Montenegro’s of Lipa City in Batangas.[7] They farmed prawns, bangus and lapu-lapu in wide hectare of commercial ponds. The prawns and bangus need saline water, but for the lapu-lapu (specie of reef fish) they pumped in considerable quantity of sea water into the ponds.

At first, business was good. However, not much longer the prize of prawn in the world market or at the nearby realms of the Asian countries dropped. For health reasons the demand of prawn as said accordingly decline, because prawn which is another form of seafood is highly rich in protein that turns into bad cholesterol and block arteries. So, its economic demand on that time dropped.

For so many constraints excluding the one discussed, the Montenegro’s closed its aqua farm in Mandangoa in 1993; and many workers were likewise economically displaced.

c.       Palm Tree Plantation.

The introduction of palm tree growing in Asia [Malaysia] was introduced by the colonial British Government in the 19^th century, and through local entrepreneurs – Borromeo’s and Boniao’s  in early 1990’s palm trees were planted to more than a hundred hectares at Barangay Dansuli, Balagnan and Linabo, southeast of Balingasag.[8]

The mountains in that side indeed have been made green by the palm trees and the limitless wave of hectares have indeed made green wads of money. The continuous swaying of the trees to and fro, made the proprietors richer; and it as well secured the plantation workers’ food table every day. A bit of the income of trees are allotted to taxes, regulatory fees and other taxes due the government in the final tax.

d.      MariCulture Park Development.

195.7 hectares was declared by the Local Government of Balingasag as a Mari-Culture Park in the south-western seas of this town. Bangus Fish Cage technology was introduced by BFAR in 2007 first in Mindanao in Balingasag; and the seas of Barangay Waterfall, Baliwagan, Binitinan, Hermano and Poblacion Barangay 6 are the haven of bangus’ fish cages.

While it is undeniably the objective of the project to help local marginal fishermen to indulge on the project for their own economic advancement, it is however a fact that there are multitude of constraints in the operation of a fish cage. Initial capital must be sufficient because feeds alone; constitute the lion’s share of the operational budget.

Today, fish cage marginal fisher folk’s operators are still there, and battling not only for the unwanted bad weather which occurs sometimes, but for the cost of feeds. Well, it might be a big ache for the fisher folks, but it has not deterred “bigtime” rich businessmen to invest in the clear and blue waters of Balingasag. Their big commercial fish cages are called as “Norwegian” accommodating from 50,000 to 60,000 bangus (from a 40-grammer fish to two or three bangus for a kilo in three or four month-time) in comparison with the 10 x 10 feet and 5 x 5 feet of the marginal fisher folks.

Indeed, clearly there is money in fish caging, despite the risk of being washed away by storms or blown off fish cage’s net.

[For more readings, please visit Rex R. Valmores’s Blogspot @ yahoo, “Life Afloat on a Fish Cage” published on July 21, 2014]

Sudden Industrial Development:

As earlier said, Balingasag is an agricultural town. It has been an agricultural town from the days the first colonizing Spaniards came to know it in 1571 when Gompot or Balingasag was granted by Adelantado Legaspi to Don Juan Griego, as an encomienda.

From the first crawl of modernity in civilization, like the exploitation of the dense forest of Balingasag through highly mechanized logging in 1954 to 1968 by Mindanao Plywood Corporation and Vulcan Logging and Mining Exploration in 1968-1970; development of agricultural lands by DMPI in 1978 to 1988; prawn and tropical fish farming by PACO in 1988 to 1993; on Palm Tree plantation starting from the 1990’s until today; fish cage technology for bangus in mariculture park in 2007 till now; and as an Eco-Tourism town under the plans and views of the union of neighboring municipalities in the Eastern side from Balingasag to Kinoguitan known as the MISORET to preserve environment and reserve its town resources to the full development of  Agriculture and Eco-Tourism; drastic shift of town development came to Balingasag promising a new bright prospect of  a dreamed change.

But before going that we would talk first on the power resources of Misamis Oriental, or to where she got her power or energy sources.

       Power Resources of Misamis Oriental.

Historically, Misamis Oriental is being served by two electric cooperatives namely, MORESCO I sometime in 1974 and MORESCO II in 1978 (West and East areas, respectively). Cagayan de Oro City is served by CEPALCO while Camiguin by CAMELCO.[9]

These electric utility companies in the province whether called as a company or those called in the guise of cooperatives, generally depended on hydro resources. We have the AGUS I Hydro Electric Power Plant 80MW (megawatts) in Marawi City that has been commissioned or in service since 1994; AGUS 6 HD Electric PP 200MW in Iligan City, which was earlier commissioned in 1954 and later improved in 1977; and Pulangi  Hydro Electric Power Plant 225MW commissioned in 1986 in Maramag, Bukidnon. Except for CEPALCO – Cagayan de Oro Power & Light Company, there is a Photovoltaic Power Plant in the mountains of Indahag, with a generation capacity of 1.1MW; and it augmented her power capabilities in 2012. The solar plant serves CEPALCO.

                                     

In 2012 Minergy and Sta. Clara International Corporation constructed a mini-Hydroelectric Dam in Plaridel, Claveria, Misamis Oriental aside from the diesel or coal power plant the former has near Nestle Philippines in Tablon, Cagayan de Oro City. The Cabulig River which originates southeast of the Balatukan Range that used to debouche to the seas of Jasaan, has been utilized to generate power. The project was operational in 2013, or earlier than that and it is said that it again supplied the energy need of CEPALCO.

Aside from the hydroelectricity and solar energy, a bigger energy or power source was constructed in the PHIVIDEC Estate, Villanueva, Misamis Oriental; its construction started  sometime in 2003 and became operational in 2006. Mindanao Coal Plant operated by STEAG and Ayala Group of Companies, has a power capacity of 232MW.[10]

Moreover, Del Monte Philippines in Bugo, Cagayan de Oro City has a Coal Power Plant; and it has been operational since the early 2000’s although its existence seems not known generally. It is located in northwest area of the wide DMPI cannery plant; and it is some hundreds meters away from the Casinglot River, whose waters originated from the eastern side of the Mt. Kitanglad, like where Agusan and Tablon Rivers have its origins. These rivers are not tributaries of the mighty Tagoloan River; despite they are near it and their water debouch to the Macajalar Bay, as well.  

       What May Rise from an Aqua Farm?

From the muddy rubbles of ponds and swamps of PACO, three 55MG or 165MG (megawatt) Thermal Power Plants shall rise within five year time from the beginning of its construction in 2014 in Barangay Mandangoa, Balingasag, Misamis Oriental and it will generate and augment the power need of Mindanao. The three Thermal Power Plants shall be powered by coal like that of STEAG in Villanueva and in Sual, Pangasinan.

PACO Aqua Farm owned by the Montenegro of Lipa City, sold their real estate properties in Barangay Mandangoa to Minergy Coal Corporation for the construction of thermal power plants. Of course, we knew it earlier that PACO had only some 28 hectares when they operated. Today, Minergy expanded its land holdings by purchasing the areas of the Rola Estate some 8 hectares, closer to 2 hectares of the Cabulosan properties and many more small parcels even those fronting the Balatukan-Mandangoa River or channel-way. Acquisition is open till now and it is projected that Minergy conservatively should have at least a hundred or more hectares in order for them to move and breath smoothly considering the complexities of the power plants in the site.

Minergy, the owner of the thermal plants; had a wider access to the seafront because they acquired more properties along the coastline. Mitsubushi Corporation is the general contractor and Bergs International as consultants. Momentarily, Sta. Clara International Corporation, a sub-contractor; is there for most of the civil works, and probably too for some of the structural works, while MetaPhil, a subsidiary of Aboitiz Company with status similar to the later; started the construction of the port. MetaPhil’s mammoth barge with heavy cranes had file-driven GI pipes in big diameters off-shore for the columns of the main berth that would carry on the conveyor system of the coal from the cargo berth to the stack yard, as can be seen in perspective drawings of the coal plant.  

Since we have no direct access on what company should come later to do the construction work because our sources said the work in the site shall be by construction phases, they told us that probably EEI shall come in and other companies after the earthmoving activities or the ground preparation would have been finished.

The swampy areas of the former PACO Farm need thousands of cubic meters of backfilling materials and sitio Bawusan in Barangay Quezon, Balingasag provide it abundantly. Convoys of ten-wheeler dump trucks stream daily from the quarry site to the construction area. The mountain in Bawusan is visibly seen in Balingasag already denuded and scoured by heavy tractors and earth-moving equipment.

To carry on the backfilling materials to the jobsite from the national highway, Minergy has constructed an accessed wide road for their heavy trucks and equipment without necessarily going in or using the barangay roads of either Barangay Mandangoa or Mambayaan. However, the mountain road (Provincial Road) from Barangay San Isidro to the quarry site in Bawusan, Barangay Quezon, is really a mess. Minergy shall compensate government for this.   

   
   The Coal-Powered Plants.

When Minergy and her contractors first got in at the area once occupied or owned by PACO, an old safety signage says “Safety First 10KM speed within the area” and above that sign is the informative notice “2x55MW Thermal Power Plants”. As days went on, a new signage was placed and it says 165MW Thermal Power Plants.[11]

Based on that we have the perception there would be three (3) 55MW Thermal Power Plants, which would generate power through thermal energy. The coal power plants are actually the movers to produce steam or thermal energy.

 

Of course these three thermal power plants shall occupy the strategic area within the plant site. Whatever would be their positions, or how would they be strategically placed in intervals with each other, certainly we do not know and we can dream only of the drawing of the plant as presented in perspective.

But one thing sure, no matter where would they place or position the thermal plants, the fact lies that they would be nearer to the sea breeze. As a matter of fact, the western part of the plant area is along the sea. The plant location is North-Northwest of Balingasag and is approximately four (4) kilometres away via barangay and national roads to the town proper.

Insofar as the other towns like Lagonglong [North more or less five (5)] and Salay [North of Lagonglong, more or less they are away some 7 or 10 kilometers away from the Thermal Plants], we can absolutely say that the coal power plant site is very near to population centers; and indeed not far from Balingasag’s coastal town neighbors.

For Jasaan, Balingasag Thermal plants is  off some 18 kilometers away, but after the cover of the Punta Gorda Mountain, are the populous areas of Barangay San Antonio, Jampason and Bobontugan located all along the coasts.

  

Going back to Balingasag, the immediate neighboring barangays of Mandangoa are Cogon to the (South coastal); Mambayaan (N coastal); Napaliran (NE); Waterfall, Baliwagan, Binitinan and Hermano (SW coastal); San Isidro (SE); Talusan, Blanco, Dumarait, Rosario and Camuayan (SW); and all these areas are flatland barangays located within just around from 5 kilometers radius up to 7 kilometers the most from the Coal Power Plants.

The hinter barangays like Barangay Quezon, the place where they get their filling materials; Calawag; Dansuli; and Balagnan are just South-East of the coal plants and generally located at the foot of the Balatukan Range, are only just some six or eight kilometre away.  Barangay Linabo, San Juan and Samay occupy another cordillera or mountain slope that starts from where the Cabulig River somehow originates up to the Punta Gorda, which is more or less in radius not more than twelve (12) kilometres away.

         Effects of Thermal Power Plant Powered by Coal.

In a stricter sense of the word, it seems inappropriate if we would talk or try to tackle on the design or concept of the design of the thermal power plants because we are not structural engineers or physicists, or whatever special skills needed so one could elaborately give a clearer description or picture of an upcoming Thermal Power Plants in Balingasag. By profession, we are just a “nobody”; nevertheless, let us try to carry on the discussion of the subject based on what we know about it from published articles even if it is only on a skin-deep.

Foremost, let us keep in mind that the Thermal Power Plants which Minergy would be operating in Mandangoa, Balingasag shall be fuelled by coal. These thermal power plants are constructed in order to address the need of additional power for Mindanao in anticipation of the demands it would have for the upcoming decades.

Since coal will be used as fuel to generate the thermal plants, possibly we could get it locally. One coal mine – tunnel type or underground mine is in Malangas, Zamboanga-Sibugay Province, which started mining activities during the American Regime yet in 1935 and now operated by PNOC. Another coal mine is located in Semirara Island in Caluya, Antique and it is an open-pit mining. If local coal would not be sufficient, we do not know if Minergy would get it from our Asian neighbors in India, Indonesia, or from China; the world’s biggest producer.

          Environmental and Public Health Impacts.

No matter whether it is a lignite coal, bituminous, sub-bituminous, anthracite, or graphite coal, they still all mean as fossil fuel like natural gas or petroleum. According to research made coal power plants are the major emitters of Carbon Dioxide (CO2). Coal produces more pollution than natural gas or petroleum. It threatens environment and it is one of the primary causes why there is an acid rain, aside from global warming.  

By nature Carbon dioxide CO2 is a Greenhouse Gas C02 and it is useful because together with other gases in the atmosphere, they serve as cover or blanket in the atmosphere against ultraviolet rays or the radiation. Without CO2 and other greenhouse gases, there would be much radiation and we cannot live on such environs. But excessive building up, or accumulation of these gases in the atmosphere - Carbon Dioxide CO2, Methane CH4, Nitrogen Oxide NO, Freon CCI2F2, Ozone O3 and Water vapour in the atmosphere, create significant climatic changes. This climatic change is known as global warming. Why is there global warming? Gases like those mentioned beforehand thickly accumulate in the atmosphere. Evaporating gases from the earth’s surface could no longer penetrate into the outer layer of the atmosphere because they are blocked. So they are stuck and would just go down back to the surface of the earth.

As said earlier, fossil fuel power plants like coal-power plants are the major emitters of CO2. If the presence of coal power plants would not be eradicated or at least minimized, emission of CO2 out from these plants shall be much.

Let us take the case of a brown and black coal, it is said that they emit 2 or 3 times as much Carbon Dioxide than other fossil fuels power stations or plants. So if coal plants are not restricted here, the bigger risks of having or experiencing the impacts of contracting sickness and global warming shall be felt by us even sooner and harsher.

Coal-power plants emit Sulphuric Oxides and Nitrogen Oxides into the atmosphere, and although these chemicals mildly contain acidity in themselves, they react when they are in the atmosphere. Thus, acidic compounds are produced such as Sulphuric Acid and Nitric Acid. If there is massive build-up of Sulphuric Acid and Nitric Acid in the atmosphere and if they fall in form of rain, mind you; this is not just an ordinary rain, but it would turn into an “acid rain”.  Acid rain jeopardizes everything, human, animals as well as crops; cause diseases like skin cancer, ulcers, and so on; reduce livestock and poultry; and destroy crops even trees by weathering them.

As an immediate way, the Thermal Power Plants (powered by coal) maybe could help solve Mindanao’s power scarcity or problem. Nonetheless, it would however create another bigger problem not on the point of power or energy, but for people in general. People living near the vicinity of the coal plant, including those even living a bit far bit from it could acquire diseases.[12] One immediate bad effect of coal power plants operation is on the health impacts. Their operations create considerable rise of respiratory diseases – asthma, bronchitis, broncho-pneumonia, black-lung disease (usually illness of miners contacted through too much exposure to coal). Cardiac or heart ailments would occur too, though it may be not as prevalent as the respiratory diseases, we hope so.  

      Smoke Stacks or “Chimneys” and Particulates.

Smoke stacks or colloquially referred to as “chimneys” are usually constructed higher than any other structures in coal-power plants, or in most plants for that matter, because they are the “pipeline” of waste materials in the form of smoke, which would be released into the air. Despite smoke stacks are intentionally constructed in towering heights to direct the smoke towards the atmosphere and intended that they would not just whirl around in the lower level, ideal broilers, furnaces and chimneys though they may be furnished with anti-pollution equipment and gadgets, there is however no guarantee that the emitted smoke is already pollution free.  

Toxic substances are present in coal and they are hard to extract or eliminate even during the pulverization process wherein coal is heated and pulverized into sizes of about two inches or less, before they would be combusted in broilers, furnaces or machines. The moment coal is fed for combustion; they burned and turned into ashes. The incombustible or those that could not be burned are the toxic substances. They are carried away or flew with the smoke emitted by the smoke stacks and they are called as the particulate matter - the “fly ash”.

The “fly ash” flies everywhere depending on the course of the wind.  Once these “fly ashes” are inhaled always or considerable exposure to it, pose great risks to person’s health. Fly ash makes people sick with respiratory sickness including cardio diseases.

Regardless whether or not one’s house is near, or a bit farther away from a coal-power plant, risk is never eliminated from contamination of the coal “fly ash”. This “fly ash” maybe bigger and visible to the eyes, but there are also particulate that are ultrafine in form, which we could barely notice. Inhalation of this ultra-fine particulate could be unnoticeable, yet the effect is similarly lethal if unattended medically.

In the instant of tropical storm, the particulates would whirl around on the direction of the storm’s path; and everyone could have his own share and this is because we have a coal-power plant nearby. 

Moreover, combusted coal or “ash” in damp site or storage area if washed away, or drained to rivers or seas carry with them elements which are toxic like lead and arsenic (As), and of course there are other toxic waste which certainly could alter a particular ecosystem in places where these toxic waste are mixed or drained intentionally or unintentionally.    

         Poor Man’s Fear and Pleadings.

There are ways to lessen pollution or toxicity of waste materials, but really it would mean considerable sum of money out from the company’s profit or equity. Undeniably, big portion of the operational budget shall go for Environmental Concern or Anti-Pollution Program; and maintaining a clean coal-power plant requires big money. The company probably would think not only twice, but for so many times if they would slash their earnings - millions of pesos for the welfare of the people living nearby or those a bit farther from the coal-power plant.

If millions would be spent for this, surely they would lessen their profits. It is now between lessening the company’s profits, or be just unconcern with the health and well-being by unmindful of the ill effects their plants can bring to people and ultimately to global warming.  

Indeed, the advent of industry, a heavy one at that in Balingasag, perhaps could be an answer of the town’s aspiration to move for better economic growth because it has been solely in agriculture since time immemorial. However, what people have in mind was that the industry that would come would be labour intensive, probably a processing plant of agricultural products including chicken and fish; a biscuit company because there has been news that one would come, or other form of light-industry which would require more manpower not only in the construction phase, but as well as in the regular operational phase like perhaps a cannery where sorting of products and its quality control usually are worked by people and not by robots.

To me, a light-industry may need minimal power requirement in contrast with heavy industry. But why on earth MINERGY Coal Power Plant came to Balingasag when rightly she should have been in an area designated for this like the PHIVIDEC Estate? We know Balingasag is an agricultural town and being an agricultural town we do not mean that we do not accept avenues of development. But the development we dream of is not like this, because the settling of coal-power plants manifests inevitable upcoming presence of great pollution. Pollution in the air due to the “fly ash” brings all sorts of respiratory ailments, cardio diseases and even carcinoma. While arsenic chemical and lead contaminate rivers and territorial waters, thus it would make the fishing grounds almost barren for the marginal fishermen. Moreover, diverse marine ecosystem at Constancia Reef would decay or die with the contamination of the area with arsenic and lead, and other toxic substances.[13]

Another great threat to agriculture is the “acid rain” though it would not come in a wink of an eye; but it certainly will come not necessarily in here, but somewhere else; as it did happen in places where Coal Power Plants operated. It takes long, long years for Sulphuric Acid and Nitric Acid to accumulate thickly or heavily in the atmosphere, and when the atmosphere cannot anymore hold them it returns back as rain. This time it is not just ordinary rain, but acid rain.

We fear all these things to come and if by that time they would finally come and we are no longer here but just elsewhere in a place where mortals rest, the greatest thing that we could have done which we have failed to do is that important concern of the welfare and well-being of our descendants. If people will remain passive and unconcern of this issue, seemingly, or as if we have already signed the “doom warrants for our children and our children’s children; and to everyone even after them”.

While we are exposing the hazards coal power plants may bring to environment or to people in general, it is evident that there are also people, who favoured much their presence here and surely, they just constitute only the minority. These are of course, the landowners of big or small parcels of land, concessionaires of aggregates, dump truck owners, food caterers and so on. What they knew about coal plant if they had known its disadvantages would not matter them much, because they are direct beneficiaries of the development, or the so called “progress” at this early point in time.  

Despite, Minergy had successfully secured an Environmental Clearance Certificate from DENR, the agency that is in-charge on this; one question is still continuously asked if there had been adequate and proper public hearings or consultations made by Minergy or the Local Government for this matter with the various Peoples’ Organization, NGO’s, Farmers and Fishermen, with neighboring municipalities (Lagonglong and Salay); and to other sectoral groups including of course students so that everyone must know the advantages and disadvantages coal power plants would bring to a place.

Just in case this basic process of educative information was not followed, or if done but just inadequately, or if one side of the coin only - the goodness was brought instead of objectively divulging the other side of it on what Coal Power Plants really are; and if public hearings were just conducted and attended by “few” whom they considered as the “majority”, for mere compliance only so an ECC shall be secured, maybe Minergy and the Local Government have lots of explanations to do latter on. This explanation would come one day when people would realize by feeling the effects of ocean pollution, when fish is harder to catch, or when fisherman’s catch of coral reef fish like the “mol-mol”,  “lapu-lapu o pogapo”, “kitong”, “dangit”, “octopus” or on mollusks and crustaceans; and so on are dwindling, or when people starts experiencing health problems where there would be prevalence of respiratory illnesses including cardio diseases are there due to the negative impacts brought by the world’s dirtiest fossil power plant – the coal power plant, which in Balingasag would generate the three Thermal Power Plants of Minergy Coal Corporation.

We hope we would not be that late to act responsibly.

The big questions now are, would it be alright for us that this Coal-Power Plant would operate in Balingasag? Shall we consider it as an indicator of development and progress – probably an industrial one so to speak; despite later on it would compromise ourselves, our children and our children’s children well-being including our environment because of this fearsome Coal Plant?  

The construction work is on-going and no one could stop it, except by some order from the court. The court will not issue whatsoever order without undergoing a judicial process – meaning there would be a formal complaint from one against one. If there is an overwhelming opinion of opposing it, then probably it would come to that way. But people by nature are passive and are on the “wait” and “see” attitude. So, maybe, the best way is to pleadingly ask Minergy to install all the hi-tech pollution control or devices, despite it would certainly cost them much to minimize the impacts of pollution to Balingasag.

We further implore the aid of DENR to implement the law without reservation. Likewise we request the ever vigilance of the Local Government, be it the Barangay or Municipal Government; not to be deceived of the goodwill the coal plant may show, or extend. They must be at all times watchful that proper pollution control and devices shall be there no matter how expensive it is, or it would be for them to maintain.[14]

The decision is ours. Let us choose what is best for Balingasag. Whatever choice do we have, be it right or wrong; certainly would become our legacy for the next generation to adjudge the wisdom their ancestors had left them.

Would there be an economic boom, or a boom on pollution? If there would be progress, the bad effect must not precede the good effect. May the development or dreamed progress brings happiness to the people and not bringers of predicaments and maladies.[15] Let us see, and rightly we wish not to see it on the latter view.

We hope Science and Technology could be wrong about Coal-Power Plants.  Me? Too hopeful.                                                                  

                                                                                      ooo

Mindanao, Philippines.910.14

---

                                                                          

  

                                                                             NOTES

[1] The northeast area of the Balatukan Range particularly Mt. Panalsalan or commonly called by the Higaonon as “Lambuan”, has a vent. Closer to a hectare, the hot spring could cook an egg in minutes. The presence of the vent or vents in Panalsalan logically confirms geologists’ explanation on the wide-plain formation of Balingasag in the lowlands was due perhaps to volcanic intervention. The hot spring was first reached by Dr. Pasani, an Italian in 1978. Together with him were Dennis Diestro, Digno Cagas, Ignacio Santua, Sr., Rito Embate, an IP guide and other civilian volunteers from Balingasag. In recent times, the area was visited by Philvocs personnel thru the Lagonglong trail. (Annotation mine.)

[2] In 1954 Mindanao Plywood Corporation, a logging company with its field office and log pond at Barangay Binitinan operated in the south-eastern areas under the Oca concession. Their operation was up to the early part of 1968 because MPC transferred to Sindangan in Zamboanga del Norte. However, while MPC was on the verge of closure, another logging company came; it was Vulcan Mining and Logging Exploration. Their operation area was on the north-eastern side of the Balatukan, where the fame battleground of Lantad is located. The operation stopped in the mid 1970 since they moved to Samar area. (Annotation mine.)

[3] From an interview with Eutiquio Acero, Surveyor and a key man of the Montenegros’, who even worked in Manila with the latter until his retirement in 2008.  He is a native resident of Cogon, Balingasag, Misamis Oriental. (Annotation mine.)

[3] Barangay Poblacion 3, Cogon, Mandangoa, and Mambayaan in the northwest, and Barangay Poblacion 6, Waterfall, Binitinan, and Hermano in the southwest. (Annotation mine.)

[4] El Salvador is a new city of Misamis Oriental in the western part, but its population is not as many as Balingasag.

[5] The Spanish Jesuits of the Province of Aragon turned over to the American Jesuits of the Province of Maryland and New York the Parish of Sta. Rita-Balingasag in 1927. Fr. Ramon Vila, SJ the last Spanish Jesuit Priest in Balingasag was replaced by Fr. William V. Corliss, SJ on September 22, 1927. Fr. Vila last exercised his priestly ministry in Balingasag on Sept. 22, 1927 when he solemnized at Sta. Rita church spouses Jose Yamit (Talisayan) and Peligrina Botardo (Lagonglong). __ See Rex R. Valmores, Blogspot @ yahoo, “Priests in Balingasag” published on August 21, 2014.

[6] Emma Blair and Alexander Robertson, The Philippine Islands, Vol. 34 pp.304-310.

[7] From an interview with Eutiquio Acero, Surveyor and a keyman of the Montenegros’, who even worked in Manila with the latter until his retirement in 2008.  He is a native resident of Barangay Cogon, Balingasag, Misamis Oriental. (Annotation mine.)

[8] Businessmen Aurelio Borromeo and Manny Boniao (the latter is his son-in-law) started growing of palm trees in plantation in Balingasag. (Annotation mine.)

[9] National Power Corporation or todays National Grid Corporation supplied power to CAMELCO through under water cable system from mainland Misamis Oriental in Silad Point-Kinoguitan to Guinsiliban the nearest points between Camiguin and Misamis Oriental. A German International Construction Company worked for the linkage sometime in late 1980’s. (Annotation mine).

[10] Another coal plant is on construction phase lately at the PHIVIDEC Industrial-Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental area owned by FILINVEST. In a news item in one of the local papers in 2013, Hon. Congressman Juliet Uy of the First District of Misamis Oriental, who then was the former Municipal Mayor of Villanueva announced that PHIVIDEC Estate shall have two more coal plants aside from STEAG. One plant is under construction now in Tagoloan and if the one in Balingasag is the second plant she had referred in the newspaper, why Minergy constructed the plant in Balingasag when there has been an area reserved for this already? From Villanueva’s Katipunan River up to Tagoloan River (in straight line) is the PHIVIDEC Industrial Estate and in those area along the coast are heavy industries such as the Philippine Sinter Plant (Kawasaki Steel); Ferrochrome Philippines (shut-down temporarily or permanently); an industrial chemical plant owned by Lina Holdings that never has been able to operate since; Mindanao Container Port (berthing facilities only); and STEAG Coal Plant. People living where heavy industrial plants are established, were relocated that is why Villanueva, Misamis Oriental has Barangay Kalingagan and Barangay Tambal (Tambobong and Balacanas) as relocation areas. What about for Balingasag, till these days none yet has been done and we do not know if they have that program later. (Annotation mine.)                                                                                                 

[11] A Thermal Plant is a power plant in which the prime mover is steam power to generate energy. In the case of the 165MW Thermal Plants in Balingasag, combusted coal shall be used to generate steam for the Thermal Plants. __ Wikipedia, Thermal Plants accessed on October 13, 2014.                                                                                             

[12] In Davao area in Toril another coal plant is on construction stage and nearing completion. It has a capacity of 300MW and shall be commissioned in 2015. __ Wikipedia, List of Coal Power Plants accessed on September 15, 2014.                                                                                                  

[13] Xavier University and Mindanao State University Marine Biology Departments are closely studying the Constancia Reef, which extends from the northwest to the southwest starting at a point in Barangay Kauswagan in Lagonglong passing along Barangay Mambayaan and Mandangoa in Balingasag, then stretching southwest towards the seas of Punta Gorda Mountains until the Agutayan Atoll in Jasaan. Said reef has a rich bio-diversity and is ideally appropriate for eco-tourism development such as snorkelling, or scuba diving, or in short as fish sanctuary. (Annotation mine.)                                                                      

[14] In my interview with one of the Members of the Sangguniang Bayan recently this October 19, 2014, he said that the august body officially travelled to Pangasinan in Sual where the biggest Coal Plant in the country is located. They toured around the Coal Plant Complex and were briefed on how pollution is being controlled by Sual Coal Plant. Accordingly, aside from other pollution control equipment, devices and chemical substances to neutralize the toxicity of elements naturally present in coal, limestone is used as neutralizer of the non-combusted materials. It is further said that the location of the plant is on a hill and not far from it is the sea. The waters used in the cooling process of the broiler, furnace, or whatever equipment would be that would be later on drained to the sea. He remarkably said that the sea below the plant area is abundant with fish; and fish cages are even there.

When asked if they had gone to the town hall at the Office of the Municipal Officer to ask on morbidity, or on leading or major cause of deaths in this fourth class town as a result of the presence of the Coal Plant, our resource said that respiratory illness does not rank as the main cause of mortality in Sual.

Their collective observations and assessments of the Sual Coal Plant operation in Pangasinan with Alaminos and Labrador as neighboring towns which are fronting the Western Philippine Seas; has been general practicable, as such for them the operation of the plant proved really to be beneficial as it boosted the economic growth of the place, aside from the employment they continuously give to the constituencies. Insofar as the issues on pollution are concerned, plant officials told them that it could be controlled and if there is pollution, relatively that would just be minimal, or maybe tolerable. A final remark was said accordingly by that official that the project of Minergy in Balingasag is more or less hi-tech than Sual. He somehow denoted that the upcoming coal plant in Balingasag is more advance in technology.

With their collated study, an ordinance at last was passed unanimously by them, since they all had gone there, of course, through the proponent’s sponsorship; granting Minergy Coal Power Corporation to authority or right to erect their plant in Mandangoa, Balingasag. The ordinance was passed in pursuance also to an approved ECC-Environmental Clearance Certificate issued by DENR. Henceforth, the LCE issued the Mayor’s Permit based on those legal statutes.

[15] Perhaps even at the early start of construction phase; Minergy in coordination with the Barangay and Municipal Government should have tried to establish relocation area for the displaced families. The effect of the displacement is not much felt by landowners because they can live elsewhere since they have been compensated well. But for the tenants, farm laborers (rice and coconut workers) and the fisher folks living on those areas who now are being displaced, where would they go? Furthermore, livelihood support programs should be there and it must be sustainable. Minergy in collaboration with the Local Government may tap the services of TESDA and other national government agencies, including private institutions for possibilities of extending livelihood or  technical training skills for the displaced residents or local manpower resource (Mandangoa or Balingasag residents ) for their possible employment during the operational phase of the plant, if ever they would qualify. (Annotation mine.)                                                                                

                                                                 ooooo