Residents oppose coal-fired power plant project

Business World Online

Posted on 10:07 PM, November 21, 2010

MAASIM, SARANGANI -- A 75-boat flotilla and a human banner with about 800 participants were formed Saturday to send a message opposing the proposed 200-megawatt coal-fired power plant of Alcantara Group-led Conal Holdings Corp.

This handout photo received on Nov. 21 from environmental action group Greenpeace and taken on Nov. 20 shows around 800 villagers from the town of Maasim in Sarangani province in Mindanao forming the words "No To Coal" on the grounds of a local elementary school. The community was joined by Greenpeace volunteers and crew from the visiting Greenpeace flagship Rainbow Warrior. --AFP

The activities were part of a campaign by Maasim People’s Coalition on climate change (MP3C) and Greenpeace International.

The flotilla was composed of outrigger-boats of local fishers while the human banner that spelled out "NO TO COAL" was composed of students, activists and residents.

The flotilla was part of the entourage of world-renowned Rainbow Warriorcampaign ship of Greenpeace.

"This is our show of opinion as a community against the dirtiest source of power that threatens the pristine environment and people of Maasim and neighboring municipalities," said Nerissa B. Tongco, MP3C officer who joined the human banner.

"There are threats of global warming and using ‘deadly coal’ will exacerbate the problem. The community has to act against what may cause the destruction of the environment and endanger human lives," said Ms. Tongco.

"Deadly Coal" is the group’s catch-phrase printed on T-shirts.

Amalie Conchelle H. Obusan, climate and energy campaigner of Greenpeace, said collaboration with local groups is part of the campaign to localize the advocacy against the use of coal as industrial fuel.

"Greenpeace seeks for 50% renewable energy efficiency in the country by the year 2020," adding it "will ask President [Benigno S. C.] Aquino’s support to achieve this."

Fr. Apollo G. Salazar of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente, a religious group opposing the coal plant, said in his talk at the event that there is a need to augment sources of power in Mindanao but "it must be from a sustainable and clean source, not coal."

The coal-fed plant is said to stabilize the energy grid in Mindanao that currently relies on hydropower, or over 50% as power source.

Conal Holdings’ officials claimed on the Sarangani provincial government’s Web site that "the P20-billion facility... is the answer to [a] projected power shortage on the island in 2012."

Conal Holdings has promised minimal air and water toxic emission by using "circulating fluidized bed combustion technology, but this has not appeased opposition groups.

As the human banner and flotilla campaigns were held, banners apparently supporting the coal-fired plant were put up all over the town.

One reads "Start the development in Maasim, we support CFPP (coal-fired power plant)."

Another said in the dialect: "The church opposes the coal plant but cannot provide us jobs."

Joseph C. Nocos, Conal Holdings vice-president for business development, said in the government Web site that the project "can provide 1,000 jobs for the community."

Ms. Tongco said: "The coal project is part of what is called the holy trinity of development aggression in Soccsksargen (South Cotabato, North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, General Santos)."

The other two are the Tampakan copper project of Sagittarius Mines, Inc. and a coal-mining project under San Miguel Corp. in Lake Sebu, both in South Cotabato. -- Louie O. Pacardo