ENVIRONMENTAL networks urged the Cebu City Government to ditch the construction of a waste-to-energy (WTE) facility and shift to renewable energy during their biking event on Sunday, Oct. 2, 2022.
Around 40 participants rode their bikes from the Plaza Independencia to Fuente Osmeña to express their opposition to the recently approved WTE incineration facility and the proposed 300-megawatt liquefied natural gas power plant.
Members of cause-oriented groups Asian People’s Movement on Debt and Development (APMDD), Philippine Movement for Climate Justice and Sanlakas led the campaign against the allegedly environmentally hazardous projects.
Joselito Vasquez, the campaign coordinator of APMDD, told SunStar Cebu their group will challenge the joint-venture agreement for the WTE project in court.
Vasquez said they will also block the project proponent’s application for an environmental compliance certificate with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
Last Sept. 22, Mayor Michael Rama signed the notice to award to New Sky Energy Philippines for the construction of the P4.8-billion WTE facility that will burn garbage to generate electricity.
“This will push us into a climate catastrophe. Naa nata sa peligro (We are already in harm’s way) and climate emergency and yet our officials are still planning to put up this type of dirty energy project,” Vasquez said.