In line with Palm Concepcion Power Corporation’s (PCPC) Social Development Program for the 135MW Coal-fired power plant project in Barangay Nipa, Concepcion, Iloilo, a community based tree planting activity was organized by the company in partnership with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Region VI, the Province of Iloilo, the Municipality of Concepcion and the Puntales Producer’s Cooperative.

In a simply ceremony held on April 19, 2013 at PCPC’s project site grounds, the project Green Program for Active Reforestation and Conservation (Green P.A.R.C.) was launched by the company. PCPC President, Mr. Roel Z. Castro said in his introduction, ‘This project aims to contribute to the expansion of Mount Apitong forest near the power plant site with an initial area of five (5) hectares as identified by DENR Region VI.”

“We will be maintaining a nursery of seedlings to continuously populate the trees in the impacted areas of the Coal-Fired Power Plant project and further contribute to the restoration and conservation of identified mangrove areas by the DENR in the Province of Iloilo”, he added.

PCPC Chairman, Dr. Walter W. Brown, is present in the said activity to show his full support for the project.

“We would like to continuously help in restoring the environmental and economic benefits that the forest provides to the community through this project”, he said.

To supplement PCPC seedling requirements, the Province of Iloilo donated appropriate seedlings for the planting site.  The Province of Iloilo was represented by Dr. Raul N. Banias, Provincial Administrator, who handed over the seedlings to Dr. Brown and Mr. Castro in a ceremonial turn-over during the program.

The Municipality of Concepcion led by Honorable Mayor Milliard Villanueva, was in full force showing that they are one with the company and the community in this pro-environment undertaking.

Volunteers from the host barangay and the partner local government units took time out to participate in this endeavour showing that the program served as a vehicle to strengthen and unify the local community.

PCPC recognizes the need to maintain a healthier ecosystem for the host community and the province as a whole through the reforestation and conservation of the environment especially in the areas affected by the power plant project.

This coal-fired power plant project which was launched last January 15, with a ground breaking ceremony in Barangay Nipa, Concepcion, Iloilo, will use the circulating fluidized bed combustion (CFBC) technology and will be one of the most advanced and most fuel-efficient plant in the Visayas. PCPC/IMT

Source: https://www.iloilometropolitantimes.com/palm-concepcion-launches-green-parc-project/