Published December
13, 2016, 10:01 PM By Erwin G. Beleo
SAN FERNANDO CITY, La
Union — Groups concerned about the environmental and climate change joined
religious organizations last Monday in opposing the proposed construction of a
ww65-billion coal-fired power plant in Barangay Carisquis, Luna, this province.
The Philippine
Movement for Climate Justice (PMCJ), HELPS for Humanity (H4H), Kanlungan Center
Foundation, the United Church of Christ in the Philippines, the Catholic
Church, and several private groups formed the Koalisyon Isalbar ti Pintas ti La
Union (Coalition to Save the Beauty of La Union).
Crisanto Palabay, H4H
executive director, said that they formed the coalition for them to have a
stronger voice and organization in blocking the 670-megawatt power plant of the
Global Luzon Energy Development Corp., the project proponent. The proponent’s
mother company is the Global Business Power Corporation, a subsidiary of GT
Holdings.
“We formed this
coalition so that there will be an organization in the local level to help our
groups in the national level pushing for our move against this project. We
believe that the project in Luna is dangerous to our health and environment,”
Palabay said.
Valentino de Guzman,
PMCJ-Luzon coordinator, said they oppose the project because of the alleged
ill-effects of burning coal to human health.
“We are pushing (to
the Department of Environment and Natural Resources) for the moratorium on all
new coal-fired power plants which covers the Luna project. No permit and no
application should be signed or approved. All should be status quo because we
have not yet resolved the issues on the bad effects of all those operating coal
plants. Let us sit down and discuss everything first,” De Guzman said.
De Guzman said they
will be seeking a meeting with Environment Secretary Gina Lopez to discuss the
Luna project situated at a 40-hectare idle land in the coastal barangay of
Carisquis and its stoppage.
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