MANILA, Philippines- Nagsampa ang cause-oriented groups nitong Huwebes ng graft, grave misconduct, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service complaint laban kay Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla sa umano’y paglabag sa coal moratorium policy na umiral sa ilalim ng administrasyong Duterte.
Sa kanilang reklamo, inakusahan ng mga grupo si Lotilla ng paglabag sa coal moratorium policy sa pag-apruba sa Aboitiz-owned Therma Visayas Inc. (TVI) Unit 3 expansion power plant sa Toledo City, Cebu.
“TVI should have been disqualified due to the coal moratorium. We view his action as a violation of the moratorium and a violation of his mandate to ensure that he is not partial to any corporation. Siya mismo kasi ay dating nasa Aboitiz,” giit ni Sanlakas secretary general Aaron Pedrosa, isa sa complainants.
“By approving the expansion of TVI, Secretary Lotilla not only increased the cost of electricity for the people of Cebu and contributed to more pollution in the Central Visayas, but also favored his old company, AboitizPower. AboitizPower was effectively exempted from following the provisions of the coal moratorium, a privilege not given to any other company,” pahayag naman ni P4P convenor Gerry Arances.
Base sa complainants, inaprubahan umano ng Energy chief ang expansion ng TVI noong 2023, o matapos ang 2020 effectivity date ng coal moratorium.
“TVI does not fall under the exemptions [on coal moratorium]. You are covered with exemptions if you have a financial flow, secured prior permits from the DENR (Department of Natural and Environmental Resources) such as the Environment Compliance Certificate and power supply agreement. TVI does not have any of these,” giit ni Pedrosa.
“Bakit ito pinalusot? There is clear indication of graft, and this must be stopped,” dagdag niya.
Sinabi rin ni Arances na ang Aboitiz Power, hanggang noong 2023, ay hindi makapagdesisyon kung ang planta ay pagaganahin ng coal o gas at kalaunan ay nagdesisyong ang una na lamang ang gamitin sa kabila ng moratorium.
“The Department of Energy approved their request and claimed the project is exempted despite the project not obviously in the coal pipeline when the moratorium was issued,” dagdag niya.
“Walang lugar ang interes ng malalaking negosyo sa kuryente, konsyumer dapat ang bigyan ng prayoridad. Oras na para sagutin ni Lotilla ang mga alegasyon na binabato laban sa kanya,” patuloy ni Ka Leody de Guzman, Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP) chairman emeritus at Partido Lakas ng Masa (PLM) president.
Sa kasalukuyan ay wala pang komento si Lotilla hinggil dito. RNT/SA
