Group cite more benefits from second power plant in Sual town

 SUAL, Pangasinan – A multi-sectoral group of residents here that includes senior citizens and womenfolk, is urging the new leaders to support the second power plant because of the numerous benefits the residents of Sual could get from the project to be constructed by a multi-national company based in South Korea.

Calling themselves as Sual Proprogress, the group said they support the development thrusts of the municipal government headed by Mayor Lizeldo “Dong” Calugay, particularly the construction of the Sual International Seaport which could draw in more investors.

However, they said, the frequent power interruptions in many parts of Pangasinan could disrupt the flow of investors that could generate additional revenues for the province as well as job opportunities for the people.

In welcoming the entry of another power plant in their locality, they listed several benefits that the municipality of Sual and its residents could derive from the project:

1.       The proposed power plant project would provide more than one thousand jobs for local folk that would mean higher purchasing power and standard of living for Sual residents;

2.       Real property taxes to be collected from the plant owners is estimated roughly at P800 million every year to be shared by the provincial government (35 percent), the municipality of Sual (40 percent) and the barangay where the plant would be constructed (25 percent);

3.       Sual residents shall be given discounted rates on their electric bills;

4.       The municipality of Sual shall be guaranteed continuous power supply;

5.       Additional revenues shall be provided for livelihood assistance to local folk, more scholarship grants, additional subsidies to local farmers in terms of free certified seeds, fertilizers, pesticides and irrigation; additional free medicines and other services to senior citizens, womenfolk and other sectors of the community, expanded health care delivery, construction of more farm-to-market roads, classrooms and other infrastructure projects;

6.       With more jobs for the residents and higher purchasing power, the local economy would grow faster and bigger as more big investors as well as small and medium scale entrepreneurs would build their businesses in Sual;

7.       The assurance of adequate and stable supply electricity would encourage more companies to set up branches or consider Sual as primary location of their business ventures;

They said the new coal-fired power plant worth about two-billion US dollars and with a generating capacity of 1,000 megawatts, would be using ultra-supercritical technology that considerably reduces emissions and pollution.

“The progress and development of Sual are now unstoppable. Imagine the thousands of jobs and the billions of revenues to be generated by the second power plant,” they added.

The municipality of Sual has jumped from fifth class to first class municipality after the operation of the first coal-fired power plant, and the municipality has been ranked second in the list of top ten riches municipalities in the country.

With the revenues to be collected from the second power plant, the residents are optimistic that Sual could jump up to the top of the list. (P.R)

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