3,000 residents reject Subic coal-plant project
Henry Empeño / Correspondent BusinessMirror.com.ph Tuesday, 30 August 2011 18:01 .
OLONGAPO CITY—In an apparent show of force, residents and officials of Olongapo City and Zambales province braved heavy rains on Monday and showed up for a rally and a protest march here to express their disgust over the proposed coal-fired thermal power plant project at Subic’s Redondo Peninsula.
Clad mostly in black and green to show their rejection of coal power and their desire for alternative-energy sources, more than 3,000 residents filled the Rizal Triangle covered court as community leaders took turns lambasting the project, which they said will destroy the environment and local tourism, and endanger the health of the local populace.
The protest, which was spearheaded by the multi-sectoral Olongapo-Zambales Civil Society Network (OZCSN) and the Sigaw ng Lumalabang Olongapeño (Siglo), utilized the modern wonder of social-networking sites to summon participants. It was also attended by some political leaders, including Olongapo Mayor James Gordon Jr. and members of the Olongapo City council, Zambales First District Rep. Mitos Magsaysay, Akbayan Party-list Rep. Walden Bello, and Zambales Vice Gov. Ramon Lacbain II. .
During the rally, speakers stressed the fact that communities around the project site have not signified their acceptance of the project, a prerequisite to the granting of an environmental compliance certificate (ECC) by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
“If Olongapo is anti-coal plant and Zambales is anti-coal plant as we have shown today, who then are the people that the project proponents say have approved the project?” asked Lacbain, himself a resident of Subic town, the proposed project site. Lacbain said he is challenging the project proponents and the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority’s Ecology Center to name the individuals and groups who purportedly approved the project. “If they cannot prove the acceptability of the project, then they should stop forcing the people of Zambales and Olongapo to accept the same,” he said. Lacbain added that because it was clear that there was no community acceptance, the Zambales provincial government under Gov. Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. has been urging the DENR to recall the ECC for the Subic coal plant. Gordon said that the strong turnout of residents for the rally has provided the necessary proof to refute claims by proponents that the project has been accepted by the community, as required by law. “We are all heroes today because we have stood up for the future of our community and our children,” Gordon said. “We want call centers here, not a coal plant. We want wind power, not coal power.” .
After hearing the speakers, the protesters then proceeded to march from the Olongapo City Hall to the gates of the Subic Bay Freeport, about 5 kilometers away. But as heavy rains poured again, the group disbanded.
However, organizers said that Monday’s rally was just the start of more protest actions against the proposed coal-fired thermal power plant at Subic’s Redondo Peninsula, which also hosts the facilities of Korean shipbuilder Hanjin Heavy Industries Corp. According to Alex Hermoso, lead convener of the OZCSN, several protest actions are forthcoming, even as oppositors are beefing up their ranks in anticipation of bigger mobilizations ahead. Hermoso said that aside from affected communities and local nongovernmental organizations, those who are opposing the project now include tourism-related locators in the Subic Bay area, members of the Subic Bay Freeport Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Subic Bay Tourism Bureau, and residents of the Binictican and Kalayaan housing areas in the Subic free port. “The fight against the coal-fired plant is just beginning,” Hermoso said. “The proponents and supporters of the coal-fired power plant have seen nothing yet.” NO to Coal supports Olongapo protest vs. Subic coal-fired power plant
.Network Opposed to Coal (NO to Coal) and Kalikasan People's Network for the Environment support the Zambaleños' and Olongapeños' actions against the building of a coal fired power plant by the Aboitiz Power Corporation inside the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.
"We congratulate the people of Zambales and Olongapo for their successful mobilization yesterday in Olongapo City against another coal fired power plant in their province. Their action proves that the project is socially unacceptable because of its negative effects to the environment and health of the people and therefore, it should not be implemented," said Meggie Nolasco, convenor of NO to Coal. Earlier this month, the Provincial Board of Zambales unanimously approved Board Resolution No. 2011-149 that opposed the building of the coal plant in Sitio Cawag, Subic. The Provincial Board questioned the awarding of an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) to Aboitiz Power Corp. despite the absence of public consultations. They also added that the coal plant will not directly benefit the people since employment, lower power rates and the environmental guarantee fund are not assured by the project. Also, since the coal plant will be built inside the Subic Bay Freeport Zone, no real property taxes will be paid. In a statement, Alex Hermoso convenor of Subic Bay Coalition Against Coal (SBCAC) and Olongapo-Zambales Civil Society Organizations (OZCS) said that the health hazards that will be caused by the coal plant will be more expensive for the local government than the income from the taxes that will be generated from the project. Moreover, it will threaten the eco-tourism industry of the Subic Bay Area. "Coal fired power plants are factories of death according to climate scientist Dr. James Hansen," said Nolasco. "The hazardous air and water pollutants emitted by coal plants endanger the environment and health of the people. The massive amounts of carbon dioxide emitted by the coal plants also worsen the current climate crisis. The Philippines ranks 8th among the countries most vulnerable to climate change. It is very ironic that despite our country's vulnerability and the need to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere to 350ppm to prevent runaway climate change, more coal fired power plant projects are being proposed in the Philippines." "Based on our monitoring, there are 12 more proposals to build coal fired power plants in the country including the Aboitiz Power Corp. project in Subic Bay and the planned expansion of the existing coal fired power plant in Masinloc, Zambales," said Clemente Bautista, Jr., national coordinator of Kalikasan PNE. Other provinces where there are proposals to build coal fired power plants are Isabela, Pangasinan, Quezon, Batangas, Davao del Sur, Saranggani, South Cotabato and Manila. Coal plants were recently built in Iloilo and Cebu despite strong opposition from the locals. The inauguration of the two coal plants were both attended by President NoyNoy Aquino. "The people, not only in Zambales and Olongapo, but also in other provinces where there are proposals to build coal plants have already spoken. Coal fired power plants are unacceptable and unwanted. President Aquino should stop supporting the dirty energy source. Our country should start turning towards clean and renewable indigenous sources of energy to protect our people from the environmental and health hazards caused by coal-fired power plants," ended Bautista. ### Subic locators defy chamber head over coal-fired plant
In a press statement, the locators said: “Tourism operators and others within the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Freeport disagree with Piano’s assessment that the fight is over for the Subic coal-fired power plant. By Robert Gonzaga Inquirer Central Luzon 8:50 pm | Monday, August 22nd, 2011 .
SUBIC BAY FREEPORT—Businessmen have reaffirmed their opposition to a Subic coal-fired power plant, defying the chamber of commerce president who believes they have lost the fight.
Danny Piano, president of the Subic Bay Freeport Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SBFCCI), circulated an August 15 statement among locators telling them that “the reality is we lost this fight” against the construction of a 600-megawatt coal-fired plant at Redondo Peninsula here. Piano also described the project as “a necessary evil, the same as our gas-guzzling cars and SUVs (sport utility vehicles).” “It is analogous to the reason why we are not all driving hybrid cars—because we cannot afford them,” he said. But he acknowledged that locators were split over the construction of the plant by Aboitiz Power, Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) and Taiwan Cogen Corp. In a press statement, the locators said: “Tourism operators and others within the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Freeport disagree with Piano’s assessment that the fight is over for the Subic coal-fired power plant. Source Governor, SP oppose Subic plant
By FRANCO G. REGALA August 15, 2011, 4:36pm .
IBA, Zambales, Philippines — Governor Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. announced Monday his full support to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) which passed a resolution opposing the construction of a a coal-fired power plant inside the Subic Bay Freeport Zone Port. Ebdane signed a resolution approved by the Zambales Provincial Council to oppose the establishment of the Subic power plant to be located in Barangay Cawag, Subic, in order to protect the environment in the tourism hub.
Vice Gov. Ramon Lacbain II, who presides over the SP, said they have heard and considered the arguments in opposing the establishment of the power plant and unanimously approved the opposition to the planned coal-fired power plant. Earlier, the city government of Olongapo and the Olongapo-Zambales Civil Society Organization (OZCSN) filed a formal petition against the project “for health and environmental reasons.” The petitioners claimed the municipal governments and their constituents were not properly consulted and informed prior to the issuance of Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to the proponents of the project. Source: http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/330782/governor-backs-subic-power-plant Recall of 2 Subic coal plants' compliance certificates sought
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"Secretary Paje should rise above the occasion and tell the coal plant builders from Taiwan and the Aboitiz group to withdraw the project and stop pursuing an undertaking that will destroy practically everything," said Pamalakaya national chairperson Fernando Hicap and vice chairperson Salvador France in a joint statement. By Reynaldo G. Navales Tuesday, August 9, 2011 .
SUBIC -- The Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya), a fisherfolk alliance, has urged the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to recall the environmental compliance certificate (ECC) given by the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) to a Taiwanese firm.
The foreign firm is set to two 150-megawatt coal fired thermal plants inside the former US Naval Base in Zambales province. Leaders of Pamalakaya, who attended Monday's congressional hearing on the proposed P16.9-billion budget of the DENR next year, submitted an official letter addressed to DENR Secretary Ramon Paje. They are asking the DENR official to revoke the ECC granted by SBMA to Taiwan Cogeneration International Corporation, who entered into a joint venture agreement with Aboitiz Energy in Redondo Peninsula Energy Inc., the project proponent. Source Turn away from coal for power needs, gov’t urged
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“More than a decade ago, we faced a power crisis. We turned to expensive fossil fuel options as a quick fix. We now realize that this was a mistake. Today, we face another power crisis. Let us learn from our mistakes,” he said. By TJ Burgonio Philippine Daily Inquirer 6:02 am | Monday, August 8th, 2011 .
The World Wide Fund for Nature-Philippines has added its voice to the chorus lamenting the government’s increasing dependence on coal for the country’s energy needs, warning that this would become too costly for consumers.
WWF-Philippines vice chair and chief executive officer Jose Ma. Lorenzo Tan said that coal was expensive now and would get more expensive over the next 20 years, especially if acquisition, operations and fuel costs were considered. Tan pointed to the P7.60 per kilowatt-hour generation cost of the new Panay CBFC coal plant as an example. This, he said, was higher than the weighted average “feed-in-tariffs (FIT)” for all renewable energy options of P7.44 per kwh, which would not come into force until 2014 at the earliest. The FIT rates were meant to assure renewable energy developers of future cash flow as electricity end-users would be charged fixed amounts to cover the production of energy from renewable sources. Source DENR chief pressed to recall ECC of Subic coal plants
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By Keka Pimentel, Gerry Albert Corpuz and Himala dela Cuesta Manila : Philippines | Aug 07, 2011 Pamalakaya said the strong opposition against the project led by Olongapo City Mayor James Gordon Jr. and the city council against the RPEI project to build and operate the coal-fired power plants should be supported. A resolution, approved by the council on Aug. 27 and approved by Gordon on Aug. 28, last year cited environmental safety and public health as bases for turning down the project. .
MANILA, Philippines- (2ND UPDATE) The twin coal fired-thermal plants inside the former US Naval Base in Central Luzon is facing a stiff opposition from another sector, this time from a national federation of small fisherfolk organizations.
The 100,000-strong fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Sunday urged the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to recall the environmental compliance certificate (ECC) given by the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) to a Taiwanese firm who will build two 150-megawatt coal fired thermal plants inside the former US Naval Base in Zambales province. Leaders of Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) who will attend tomorrow’s congressional hearing on the proposed P 16.9 B of the DENR next year, said they will submit an official letter addressed to and demanding DENR secretary Ramon Paje to revoke the ECC granted by SBMA to Taiwan Cogeneration International Corporation, who entered into a joint venture agreement with Aboitiz Energy in Redondo Peninsula Energy Inc., the project proponent. Source Zambales provl board nixes Subic coal-plant project
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The project, which is touted to contribute greater power-generating capacity for the Luzon grid, recently gained the participation of the Manila Electric Co., (Meralco) the country’s largest distributor of electrical power. Meralco successfully forged a deal for the project with AboitizPower and Taiwan Cogeneration Corp. (TCC), the original partners in the Redondo Peninsula Energy Inc. (RP Energy), which has the development rights for the 600-megawatt (MW) coal-fired power plant. Henry Empeño / Correspondent Business Mirror Thursday, 04 August 2011 19:18 .
In Photo: Residents and youth activists from Subic, Zambales, stress their “right to breathe fresh air” during a protest rally at the Zambales capitol last July 6. (Henry Empeño)
IBA, Zambales—Despite gaining the backing of three experienced players in the power industry, the $1.28-billion proposal to build a coal-fired thermal power plant at the Redondo Peninsula in the Subic Bay Freeport has met strong opposition from local communities. On Monday, the Zambales provincial board formally expressed its opposition to the project and slammed its proponents for failing to consult local residents, removing occupants of the project area without just compensation, and conspiring to deprive the host communities of taxes and other direct revenues from the project.
Pointing out that the project lacks the social acceptability component, the board then requested the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to immediately cancel the Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) issued for the proposed power plant. The project, which is touted to contribute greater power-generating capacity for the Luzon grid, recently gained the participation of the Manila Electric Co., (Meralco) the country’s largest distributor of electrical power. Meralco successfully forged a deal for the project with AboitizPower and Taiwan Cogeneration Corp. (TCC), the original partners in the Redondo Peninsula Energy Inc. (RP Energy), which has the development rights for the 600-megawatt (MW) coal-fired power plant. The partners announced recently that the project will consist of two 300-megawatt units, with the first one expected to be commercially operational by the first quarter of 2015, and unit two by the second quarter of the same year. Source Zambales board joins protests vs. coal-fired plant
Click to sign petition. www.ipetitions.com/notocoal Zambales Vice Gov. Ramon Lacbain said the resolution was unanimously approved by the board members amid earlier formal oppositions already filed by the city government of Olongapo and the Olongapo-Zambales Civil Society Organization (OZCSN) which are against the project “for health and environmental reasons.” By Ding Cervantes Aug 02, 2011 .
ANGELES CITY – The provincial
board of Zambales passed on Monday a resolution opposing the
construction of a coal-fired thermal power plant within the Subic Bay
freeport zone in Barangay Cawag in Subic, which was approved allegedly
under questionable circumstances during the Arroyo administration.
Zambales Vice Gov. Ramon Lacbain said the resolution was unanimously approved by the board members amid earlier formal oppositions already filed by the city government of Olongapo and the Olongapo-Zambales Civil Society Organization (OZCSN) which are against the project “for health and environmental reasons.” Alex Corpus Hermoso, lead convenor of OZCSN, said the project, now under construction, was initially junked by local officials of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) who were overturned by then Environment and Natural Resources Sec. Lito Atienza. Source Aquino support for coal-fired plants slammed; groups say he lacks ‘environmental leadership’
Click to sign petition. www.ipetitions.com/notocoal “Instead of making polluters pay, the national government pays polluters. Aquino condoned billions of pesos in terms of tax liabilities and obligations of foreign and private operators of coal plants.” – Kalikasan By Ina Alleco R. Silverio Bulatlat.com Published on July 1, 2011 .
President Benigno Aquino III seems to be a big fan of coal-fired plants, and this yet another issue that has had environmental activists burning.
Last June 26, the president led the inauguration of a 100-megawatt coal-fired power plant in Cebu province. He was accompanied by Energy secretary Jose Almendras, Cebu governor Gwendolyn Garcia and officials of the Korean Electric Power Corp. (KEPCO) which owns the facility. Located in Colon village, Kepco and the local government said that the plant will provide 11.24 percent of the Visayas grid’s power requirements. Previously on April 1, 2011, the president unveiled another coal plant in Iloilo City, which is owned by Panay Energy Development Corporation (PEDC) a unit of Global Business Power Corp. of the Metrobank group of companies. Source Environmentalists oppose Subic coal-fired plant
Click to sign petition. www.ipetitions.com/notocoal A source in the SBMA, who asked not to be named because he was not authorized to speak on the subject, said not all SBMA officials are behind the coal-fired power plant project. ByRobert Gonzaga Inquirer Central Luzon 8:41 pm | Monday, May 23rd, 2011 .
SUBIC BAY FREEPORT—Environmentalists are opposing the construction of a coal-fired power plant here, citing its harmful effects to the environment and surrounding communities.
In a May 20 letter, Amalie Hamoy-Obusan, climate and energy campaigner for Greenpeace, told officials of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) that while coal might be comparatively cheap, “in reality, the cost of coal is far too high because it is the communities that live near and around these plants that ultimately suffer the negative impacts from the use of coal.” Greenpeace, an independent global organization campaigning to protect and conserve the environment, has started coordinating with local organizations to stop the coal-fired plant project. Its attempt to stop the establishment of the plant has gathered momentum as Aboitiz Power Corp. (APC) announced in Metro Manila that it was raising funds to start building at least two power plants in the country, one in Subic and the other in Davao. Source No to Coal, Yes to Renewable Energy in Subic
Click to sign petition. www.ipetitions.com/notocoal GSBTB President George Lorenzana and members of the tourism organization representing operators from Zambales, Bataan, Olongapo City and Subic Freeport expressed strong opposition to the project saying that, “nobody from the tourism sector wants to have this kind project.” by NEWS CENTRAL on Saturday, April 23, 2011 at 10:23am Greater Subic Bay Tourism Bureau (GSBTB) President George Lorenzana(5th from right) and members of the tourism organization representing operators from Zambales, Bataan, Olongapo City and Subic, along with cause-oriented groups and people’s organization flash thumbs down sign to oppose the plan coal thermal plant in Subic The plan to build a 600-MW coal-fired thermal in Subic has drawn protest from various sectors including the local government unit of Olongapo City, cause-oriented groups, and investors and operators of tourism related establishments in and around Subic Freeport.
A recent Open Forum organized by the Greater Subic Bay Tourism Bureau (GSBTB) held at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center showed growing numbers of organizations and individuals opposing the setting up of coal plant in Subic.Source Cong. Manny Pacquiao along with other personalities Urges Moratorium on Construction of New Coal Power Plants
Click to sign petition. www.ipetitions.com/notocoal "The resolution calling for the moratorium on coal-fired power plants will bring immediate and long-term benefits to the Filipinos. Aside from mitigating air pollution and global warming, the country will concentrate in harnessing our indigenous renewable energy sources such as geothermal and hydro power," said Meggie Nolasco of Kalikasan-PNE and spokesperson of Network Opposed to Coal-Fired Power Plant (NO to Coal Power Plant). Nolasco is quite right. A moratorium on coal power plants construction will greatly help the country not only in environmental factors but also in developing renewable energy sources. Posted: Nov 25, 2010 .
Sarangani Congressman Manny Pacquiao and other Filipino Celebrities, Pinoy rock star Chito Miranda, actress poliyician Rep. Lani Mercado, political activist Satur Ocampo and former president of Catholic Bishop Conference of the Philippines Bishop (CBCP) Archbishop Angel Lagdameo of Jaro, Iloilo are all insisting for a national moratorium on the construction of new coal power plants in the country.
Together with various organizations, the said personalities supported the House Resolution filed by representatives from party lists Bayan Muna, Anakpawis, Gabriela Women's party, ACT and Kabataan. The said party lists have filed a house resolution urging an immediate moratorium on the development of all coal-fired power plant projects in the country until 2050. Source 2 coal plants to rise soon in Subic
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Olongapo City Mayor James Gordon Jr. and the city council have objected to the plan of RPEI to build and operate the coal-fired power plants. Tonette Orejas Philippine Daily Inquirer, Central Luzon First Posted 23:04:00 09/06/2008 Filed Under: Regional authorities, Environmental Issues CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga, Philippines. The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority has issued an environmental compliance certificate (ECC) to a company that is part of a joint venture which has proposed to build two 150-megawatt coal-fired power plants at the Subic Bay Freeport.
This was learned from former Zambales Vice Gov. Ramon Lacbain II who furnished the Inquirer a copy of the ECC issued to the Taiwan Cogeneration International Corp., a partner of the Aboitiz Energy in the Redondo Peninsula Energy Inc. (RPEI), the project's proponent. Source Why build a Coal Plant in Subic?
Click to sign petition. www.ipetitions.com/notocoal Imagine this please, dear reader: an area promoted internationally as an environmentalist’s, not to mention a tourist’s, paradise—clear, unpolluted air and water, virgin forests, pristine beaches, breathtaking views. An area (with Clark) designated for tourist development by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo herself as part of her 10-point agenda. And then someone plunks down a coal-fired generation plant right in the middle of it, or at least in full view of everyone there. By Solita Collas-Monsod - Philippine Daily Inquirer Saturday, June 21, 2008 .
Tourism organizations in the provinces of Bataan and Zambales and the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) are against it. Civic organizations (e.g., the Rotary Club of Subic), homeowners’ associations, fisherfolk organizations and NGOs in the area are against it. The Subic Bay Freeport Chamber of Commerce (SBFCC) is against it. Position papers have been submitted, resolutions have been signed, critical remarks and questions have been posed (unanswered, or not satisfactorily answered) during “consultations” as part of a so-called “scoping” process. In fact, there has rarely been such unanimity of opinion in opposition to a project.
And yet, it is still alive and kicking, with a Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) task force in the central office (the DENR regional office was bypassed, apparently because they were against it too) still “reviewing” the case, even as press releases by the project proponent are being published that construction will begin this year. The proponent must have powerful connections. Source |
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