Philippine Congress may consider legalizing use of incinerators... WHAT!?!?

Now what are our senators up to? I hope that they will not agree to this...

Gil C. Cabacungan Jr.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

CHEAP FUEL OR CLEAN environment?

Congress is seriously considering amending the Clean Air Act in order to legalize the operation of incinerators which could be used as a source of cheap energy.

“There is some talk in some quarters that the legislature revisits the Clean Air Act and allow the incineration of industrial wastes in the country to produce electricity. I don’t know how that will come about but there is talk,” said Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile in an interview with reporters.

Regarded as polluters, incinerators were banned after the Clean Air Act was signed into law in 1999.

Enrile noted that the potential of tapping incinerators (which could convert waste material into electric power) as an alternative to crude oil power plants had become intriguing in the face of the skyrocketing of oil prices.

Environmentalists argue that incinerators’ harmful impact on the environment far outweigh their benefits as a source of energy and as a way to dispose waste.

Enrile has not yet made up his mind whether to support or oppose the plan to amend the Clean Air Act, saying he has yet to weigh its pros and cons.