Davao City council overrides mayor’s veto on controversial coal-fired plant

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TUESDAY, 13 DECEMBER 2011 19:49 KEITH BACONGCO / CORRESPONDENT

DAVAO CITY—As expected, the City Council on Monday voted to override the veto order of Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio denying the establishment of a controversial coal-fired plant in Barangay Binugao, Toril District in this city.

The ordinance upheld by the council reclassified parcels of land in Barangay Binugao from protected medium industrial zone to protected heavy industrial zone. The barangay is the site of a proposed 300-megawatt coal-fired power plant, the subject of much controversy with vocal support and opposition to it.

Duterte-Carpio expressed sadness and frustration over the council decision.

Last week, her father Rodrdigo Duterte told the media that the veto has not yet killed the project, adding that the City Council will decide and will leave the mayor no choice but to implement the project.

On Monday, 21 of the 22 councilors present voted to override the veto.

Only Councilor Paolo Duterte, her brother and an ex-officio member and chairman of the Association of Barangay Captains (ABC), abstained from the voting.

Their father has been consistently telling the media that he has been consistent in pushing for the implementation of the project. “I have visited the coal-fired plant in Villanueva [Misamis Oriental], but I still have to see someone die of cancer.”

In her veto message, the mayor said: “As a mayor of our city, I should be at the forefront of effecting the observance of the right of our people to health and balanced ecology, and the correlative duty of the people, which I suppose rests largely upon the government, to refrain from impairing the environment.”

The outcome of the Monday’s session drew flak from groups opposed to the project.

While the session was going on, 200 protesters gathered in front of the City Council building to protest the establishment of the coal-fired power plant.

On Monday groups opposed to the project circulated text messages and e-mail urging people to tie green ribbons or wear green in support to the veto order of the mayor.

Franchie Buhayan, secretary-general of Bayan Southern Mindanao Region, led the protesters in a noise barrage in front of the City Council building.

Buhayan accused the councilors of being more loyal to the Aboitiz Power Corp. than to their constituents.

“They refused to listen to the people, particularly those living in the project site,” she said.

Buhayan claimed that they are indignant about the “power play” being displayed by the vice mayor on the issue, adding that they are not surprised when the elder Duterte said that the “the veto is not the end.”

Majority Floor Leader Councilor Tomas Monteverde III read the veto order of Mayor Duterte before the council. Bello granted the three-minute recess upon the request of Monteverde.

The councilors gathered and apparently agreed who will speak first before the body.

After the break, Duterte told the council that he will not participate in the voting.

Councilor Melchor Quitain spoke before the council, acknowledging that there are alternative sources of energy, which are less harmful such as solar, wind and hydro power.

He explained though that “to say there are alternative sources of energy is not the same as saying that they are available. To say that they are available is not the same as they available now. And to say that they are available now is not the same as saying that they are doable and workable here in Davao City.”

In her previous media interviews, the mayor has been saying “to explore other alternative sources of energy instead of the coal.”

Opposition groups also echoed the mayor’s suggestion to explore alternative sources of energy.

While Quitain was speaking, five protesters silently walked inside the session hall with placards in protest against proposed the coal-fired power plant project.

The council’s sergeant-at-arms tried to put the placards down but Bello signaled him to allow the protesters with their silent protests.

After Quitain’s speech, the presiding called the voting whether to override the veto of the mayor or not. All of the councilors present voted to override the veto of Mayor Duterte.

They were Nilo Abellera, Victorio Advincula Jr., Bernard Al-ag, Al Ryan Alejandre, Dante Apostol, Conrado Baluran, Joanne Bonguyan, Louie John Bonguyan, Pilar Braga, Arnolfo Ricardo Cabling, April Marie Dayap, Jimmy Dureza, Melchor Quitain, Edgar  Ibuyan,  Emmanuel Galicia Sr., Rene Elias Lopez, Tomas  Monteverde, Jashera Gonzales, Myrna Dalodo-Ortiz, Jose Louie Villafuerte and Rachel Zozobrado.

After the voting, the protesters marched out of the session hall shouting: “Mga traydor sa katawhan [Traitors to the people]!”

Tom Villarin, convener of Dabawenyo Ayaw sa Coal (DAC), claimed that scientific studies over decades have proven the negative impact of coal-fired plant to people and the environment.

“We don’t need dead bodies before we say coal is unsafe,” Villarin said in a statement furnished to the media.

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In Photo: Multi-Sectoral groups opposed to the coal-fired power plant project in Toril District hold a protest in front of the legislative building of Davao City on Monday, Dec. 12, 2011.  (Keith Bacongco)