Lawyer criticizes new power plant

CEBU, Philippines - The co-founder of Philippine Earth Justice Center  said that with the construction of another coal-fired power plant, this will make Cebu the “coal capital” of the country.”

“It’s a sad news and will make Cebu the coal capital of the Philippines,” said Atty. Gloria Ramos, PEJC co-founder.

 AboitizPower will be building a P41-million, 340-megawatt coal-fired power plant in barangay Bato, Toledo City. The plant is expected to be operational on the third quarter of 2017.

“Have we measured Cebu’s carrying capacity in allowing another carbon emitting power plant to operate?  Why can’t we be like Negros and try out clean and renewable energy? We deserve that,” Ramos said.

She said that in relation to the climate crisis and stemming carbon emission, we have forgotten to seriously consider the need for restoring ecological integrity and resources conservation. 

Ramos said Toledo City is part of the Tanon Strait Protected Seascape, where there is already a high mercury level in the area.

She said that there is no functional Protected Area Management Board in the area nor is there a management plan, aside from the non-implementation  of the Solid Waste Management law and Clean Air Act.

Earlier, the Philippine Movement for Climate Justice -Cebu, Cebu Alliance for Safe and Sustainable Environment, Freedom from Debt Coalition-Cebu and Sanlakas-Sugbo reiterates their call for an immediate moratorium of coal plants permits not just in Cebu but in the entire country.

The PMCJ, under the Reclaim Power Campaign, continues to intensify calls to abandon the country’s “dirty energy track,” which puts premium on intensive investment in coal plants and mining and the shift to renewable energy options.

According to PMCJ, coal is the main source of global warming through its high carbon dioxide emissions; and that there is no such thing as clean coal.

“The push for more coal project is intended to support an export-oriented economy that not only favors the elite and breeds inequality but has also driven global warming and climate change,” read the group’s statement.

Department of Energy data shows that to date, the Visayas grid has a total dependable capacity of 867.7mw, of which 612.8mw is generated by coal-fired power plants.—(FREEMAN)