Sual mayor scores a blow vs Save Sual Movement

SUAL, Pangasinan – The Office of the Ombudsman has denied the petition for assistance filed by the Save Sual Movement  (SSM) against Mayor Roberto Ll. Arcinue and Councilor John Christopher Arcinue.

Claiming intimidation and harassment from the two officials, Rosanna Marie Soriano, SSM chairperson, filed the request for assistance on June 13, 2017. Her group was opposed to the construction of a second power plant in the municipality.

This booming town is host to the biggest power plant in the country, the Sual Coal-Fired Power plant, which has a generating capacity of 1,218 megawatts.

A clarificatory conference was conducted last February 8, 2018 by lawyer Joseph Marion P. Navarrete, graft investigation officer  in the office of the Deputy Ombudsman for Luzon.

Mayor Arcinue explained that he is always open to dialogue with anyone opposed to the construction of a second coal-fired power plant which the group is opposing.

The mayor reiterated his challenge to the officers of SSM including former Vice Mayor Alex Rigonan and a certain Fr. Alfred Viernes to show proof directly linking the operation of an existing coal-fired power plant to environmental degradation or health problem of any resident.

In several press interviews, Rigonan vowed to present evidence to prove their claim that the coal-fired power plant had been wrecking havoc to the local environment and that several residents have fallen ill because of the power plant.

“On my part, I have a copy of a recent study conducted by a reputable international agency and the municipal health office showing that the coal-fired power plant  is neither a  threat to the local environment nor to the health of the residents,” Arcinue said.

He added that the series of studies were sanctioned by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

As local chief executive, he stressed, he would immediately revoke the business permit of the power plant if the group could come up with solid evidence to prove that the coal-fired power plant is a serious threat to the environment and the health of the residents.

Both parties agreed to hold a public hearing on the proposed second power plant.  They also agreed to name a third-party moderator for the public hearing yet to be scheduled.

Following the conference, lawyer Raquel Rosario M. Cunanan-Marayag, acting director for Public Assistance and Corruption Bureau of the Office of the Ombudsman, readily approved Navarrete’s recommendation “be considered CLOSED AND TERMINATED.”

Mayor Arcinue and an “overwhelming” majority of the residents here that include the farmers, womenfolk, senior citizens, students and youth, and employees support the construction of another power plant that would provide thousands of jobs and income opportunities, millions of additional revenues, hundreds of scholarship grants, and business opportunities to the residents.

The project proponent based in South Korea is investing about two billion US dollars to the project that has a generation capacity of some 1,000 megawatts.