Green Atom Renewable Energy Corporation has plans to construct a P 4.5 billion waste-to-energy plant in Barangay Inmanduyan, Pangasinan.
Green Atom President Rex Recarro said that the proposed project will be environment-friendly with a dual purpose: turning wastes into a six-megawatt power generator and making blocks that could be used for construction.
“The waste will be transported via hauling trucks. We can assure that it will be contained, because the waste our trucks will be picking up has already been segregated by the towns’ respective Material Recovery Facilities (MRF),” he told PNA reporters in an interview.
Waste materials that cannot be turned into energy will be converted into construction blocks, he added.
The facility will not be an incinerator, rather it utilizes a thermal combustion technology which is safe for the environment, Recarro said.
“We have been granted by the Department of Energy a bio-machinable energy operating contract for this project after numerous technical, financial, and legal reviews. We have also secured an environmental compliance certificate only for this facility,” he was quoted in a PNA report.
“What’s best is this –the local government unit will pay nothing for the construction of this facility, and they can reap its benefits,” he added.
Once operational, it can benefit the residents by providing jobs, boosting tourism, and the local government unit (LGU) can earn from tipping fee, taxes, and other dues, Recarro added.
The local official of the town is looking forward the completion of the WTE project in spite of oppositions from some residents during a public consultation started by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) Committee on Laws and Ordinances, and Committee on Environment, with Green Atom.
Mayor Silverio Alarcio said the consultation was initiated for residents to understand more about the project, including the misconceptions they might have had on the facility.
“All projects, not only in Laoac, face opposition. Normal lang ‘yan (It’s normal). But this does not mean that we will no longer continue to push through with it. Tutuloy po ito, dahil malaki po ang maitutulong nito hindi lang sa Laoac kundi pati na rin sa ibang mga bayan dito sa Pangasinan (This will push through because it will be a big help not only to Laoac but even to the other towns of Pangasinan),” Alarcio said.
Two years ago, the Sangguniang Bayan of Laoac passed a resolution saying its support for the project. The facility could only be built after the revision of the Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP).
“The facility will be situated in an agricultural lot, we need to convert it unto industrial via the revised CLUP,” Alarcio added.
On the other hand, the SP suggested that the opposing party file a legal action if they really want the project not to push through.
Chairman of the Committee on Laws and Ordinances SP Member Noel Bince said that what SP did was to start and mediate the talks between the stakeholders.
“Hopefully, this would be the final public consultation. If the minority has objections on the proposed project, they should go to court and file a complaint. The SP merely mediated, and we have done our part,” Bince said.
He added that SP may not be able to accommodate another discussion due to other urgent matters on hand.
