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Monday, March 01, 2004
Banatenhons, neighbors lauded for sustaining anti-coal drive
RESIDENTS of Banate and its neighboring municipalities were lauded for sustaining their campaign against the proposed entry of a coal-fired power plant in Barangay Salvador, a coastal village of Banate.
We salute the undaunted commitment of the people of Banate and its nearby municipalities in their campaign against the project, Ma. Geobelyn Lopez, secretary general of Madiaas Ecological Movement, said in a statement.
The Iloilo Provincial Board (PB) will tackle during its session Tuesday the committee report rejecting the construction of the $150-M 100-megawatt power project proposed by Kepco Philippines Corp.
In September last year, the Municipal Council Bayan of Banate gave authority to Mayor Carlos Cabangal to enter into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Kepco president/CEO Lee Gil Gu.
Without consulting their people, the municipal officials of Banate allowed the "conduct of the feasibility study" by Kepco in the proposed plant site in Sitio Intropahan.
The fact that no consultation or information dissemination was held was a show of an intention to accommodate this project thereby undermining the people's interest, Lopez said.
Furthermore, the project raises environmental and health concerns. Coal-fired power plants are considered the dirtiest source of energy. Emissions from coal-fired power plants can damage lung tissue and contribute to cancer and respiratory diseases, even if the proponent boast of using non-conventional technology, she added.
"We salute the report of the committee of the whole to reject the coal plant project. We are also glad that the House of Representatives recommended the requirement of social acceptability and permit from the host community before starting the project," Lopez said.
She added that "these gains the people reaped from the series of hearing and investigations conducted were mainly due to their persistence in pursuing the anti-coal plant campaign."
"Indeed, once again, it is proven that mass movement is one of the effective means to forward the people's interests and welfare. Whether or not the decision of our lawmakers and local leaders would serve their own interest considering that election is fast approaching, the decisiveness of the people's collective effort gave a deadly blow to the power plant project," she further said.
(March 1, 2004 issue)
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