ORION, Bataan, Philippines — Warring local officials here have united for good as they lived up to the proverbial saying that in politics, there are no permanent enemies and friends but only permanent interests.

Mayor Jose “Pepe” Santos and the opposition composed of the majority of the Sangguniang Bayan (SB) members have set aside their political differences and united in accepting and hosting the construction of a power plant in this town for the “interest of the public.”

Santos has only three councilors allied with him in the SB while his vice mayor belongs to the other political party.

The ground-breaking of the $500 million power plant was held last Sunday, signaling the start of the construction of the giant structure which local officials called environment-friendly as it will cause no air and water pollution.

“We can set aside politics for the good of our constituents and this is a breakthrough project since it will reduce poverty,” said Santos.

The power plant, the biggest so far to be constructed in the province if not in the region, will be funded by the Concord Pacific Investment Holdings, Inc., a consortium of foreign and local investors. It is headed by Engr. Jose Utrillo, president and chief executive officer who is a US-based business executive.

Utrillo expressed gratitude to local officials headed by Santos for their unity and their unanimous approval of the project.

Utrillo said Orion town is lucky to be the first town to establish a giant power plant project that will not only generate thousands of employment but also boost the income of the town not to mention the indirect benefits the people of Bataan may derive from it.

For his part, Santos expressed gratitude to Utrillo and the officers of Concord for their trust and confidence in investing in his town, saying Orion town is an alternative investment area.

Santos said the area where the power plant will be constructed is a sprawling 400-hectare mountainous area located in the almost uninhabited sitio of Pita in Barangay Daang Pare. The power plant, Santos pointed out, will be environment-friendly since there is no smoke, air and water pollution as it is fuelled by steam coming from garbage.