The proposed coal and diesel power plant at the Cadiz Port Zone in Negros Occidental would not only be an environmental hazard for its population, but will be a threat to the city’s fishing industry, Freedom from Debt Coalition Negros President Noli Espina, said in a press release.

Coal-fired power plants use large quantities of water for producing steam and for cooling. When coal-fired power plants remove water from a lake or river, fish and other aquatic life can be affected, as well as animals and people who depend on these aquatic resource, Espina said.

He also said that there is also no guarantee to reducing power rates because although the Philippine has coal deposits in Semirara Antique, Calatrava and the Bayawan-Basay area, the bulk of coal is imported and prices are dictated by the world market just like diesel.

Alter Trade marks
24th anniversary

Alter Trade is celebrating its 24th year of “Fair Trade and People to People Trade” today highlighting its accomplishments in partnerships with farmers from Negros Occidental and other provinces and regions in the country, its chairperson, Norma Mugar, said yesterday.

At 3 p.m. today, Fr. Ronald Quijano will lead a mass at the Alter Trade compound while 45 of their workers will take part in a tree planting activity tomorrow with the Pandanon Integrated Balangon Farmers Association at Don Salvador Benedicto.

Mugar recalled that it was in the 1980’s when Negros Occidental experienced socio-economic crisis that led to the establishment of the organization.

PDIC okays merger
of PNB, Allied Bank

MANILA – The Philippine Deposit Insurance Corp. has given its approval to the merger of the  Tan-led Philippine National Bank and Allied Banking Corp.

In a disclosure with the Philippine Stock Exchange yesterday, PNB said it received Wednesday an “advice” from PDIC “granting consent to the proposed merger of the Philippine National Bank with Allied Banking Corporation.”

The approval, the disclosure added, identified PNB as the surviving entity.