Lagdameo leads protest rally vs Iloilo coal-fired power plant

ILOILO CITY – Hundreds of Ilonggos joined an ecumenical prayer rally yesterday to show their objection to the proposed coal-fired power plant here.

But the project proponent, Global Business Power Corp., said it is unfazed by the show of force and that it will continue with its expansion of the Panay Power Corp. in Barangay Ingore in the La Paz district to include a 164-megawatt coal-fired power plant.

Unlike last week’s interfaith rally on the national broadband network controversy, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines president and Jaro, Iloilo Archbishop Angel Lagdameo took an active part in yesterday’s rally, even carrying a poster and posing with members of the militant group Gabriela clad in skeleton costumes.

The religious and members of Church-based organizations and environmental groups, professionals, students mostly from Catholic schools in the city and militants – numbering about 1,000 – took part in the rally at the provincial capitol grounds.

Shortly after lunch, the protesters marched from St. Clement’s Church in La Paz and Sta. Teresita Church in the downtown area to the capitol grounds for the ecumenical rally.

Lemuel Fernandez, media and public relations consultant of the GBPC, which owns the Panay Power Corp., said the rallyists numbered only 500 at most.

The coal-fired power plant has become a hot issue among city residents.

According to its proponents, the power plant would solve the projected power shortage in Iloilo in 2010, and spur development.

But its opponents, especially the Responsible Ilonggos for Sustainable Energy and Greenpeace, claimed that geothermal plants in the Visayas have more than enough power reserves.

They also raise concerns about the impact of a coal-fired power plant on the environment and the health of the people.

“We respect their position,” Fernandez said. “But their number is very small, and is not representative of the sentiments of the people of Iloilo City.”