The public scoping for SMC Global Power Holding’s 600-megawatt liquefied natural gas (LNG) power plant in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu has been canceled after procedural and jurisdictional irregularities were raised.
The cancellation was hailed by local stakeholders and concerned groups led by the Center for Energy, Ecology, and Development (CEED).
“The lack of notices in public spaces and the failure to invite stakeholders to the process show that communities were deliberately kept outside of the preparations leading towards the public scoping. Its official cancellation comes as a win for Cebuanos, who have been spared of gas expansion in their region for now,” CEED deputy executive director Atty. Avril De Torres said in a statement.
Various groups have questioned proceedings of the public scoping, as well as alleged violations of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Administrative Order 2017-15 for the lack of information education campaign, focus group discussion, and other concerns on the project.
The group has called SMC Global Power, as well as subsidiary Converge Power Generation Corporation (CPGC) – the proponent of the LNG project, to be accountable for “neglecting proper environmental, educational, and social accountability requirements.”
“May misrepresentation sa mga larawan na iniharap ng EMB (Environmental Management Bureau) at malinaw na kulang sa preparasyon ang mga nagpresenta. Kailangan ng CPGC na magsagawa ng comprehensive na focus group discussion kung saan lahat ng stakeholders ay kasama din sa opposition in accordance with the law,” Fr. Benido Tumol, assistant parish priest of the nearby Nuestra Senora de Regla Parish National Shrine, said.
SMC Global Power is the power arm of San Miguel Corporation (SMC). The LNG plant looks to provide baseload power to the grid.