Amid the growing awareness of the community on environmental and health risks raised against the proposed coal-fired power plant of the Aboitiz Power, Inc., the Barangay Council of Binugao in Toril issued Friday a certificate of “no objection” to the proposed 300 MW coal fired power plant.
However, one member of the barangay council, Flora Salandron, who has been consistent in her opposition to the P25 billion project, declined to sign the resolution. “Despite the absence of clear acceptability from among the residents of Binugao and the many unanswered questions about the project, the council issued a resolution,” she said.
Noting that Aboitiz promised the barangay council an internal revenue allotment (IRA) of P3 million, Salandron said, “The damage that the Coal Fired Power Plant brings will be beyond repair.”
“All the health, environmental and economic costs of a coal-fired plant have been exchanged for a mere P3 million IRA that Aboitiz promised. But what is P3 million compared to what it will cost to the health of poorresidents who cannot even afford to pay for a paracetamol when they get sick? What is a P3 million IRA if the plant will cause damage to both marine and agricultural ecosystems that have economic and aesthetic values more than the said IRA?,” she said.
Salandron said Barangay Binugao is classified as an agricultural area with light to medium industries under the Davao Zoning Ordinance and the Barangay Development Plan (BDP) makes no room for a coal-powered plant as it falls under the heavy industry category and considered as an environmentally critical project.
On the contrary, aside from the P3 million IRA, this project could mean jobs and livelihood for residents of the village, according to Francisco Lunsada, chair of the committee on infrastructure. Admitting that there is fear of the risks that come along with the project, especially its impact on the environment, he said he had to issue the approval because the company was eyeing to build it in nearby Barangay Inawayan in Sta. Cruz.
He said, “What difference would it make when Inawayan is very close to us? So, instead of them building the project in Inawayan, we would rather that they be allowed to build it here.”
Fluvial protest
Environmentalists from different organizations expressed their opposition to the Aboitiz’s coal-powered plant through a fluvial parade last Monday during the international commemoration of Earth Day, along the Davao River.
Secretary general of the Panalipdan (Protect) Southern Mindanao, Francis Morales, said that they hope “our leaders will take the essence of the Earth Day to heart – that is to act prudently with the best interest of humanity in mind, in order to mitigate the impact on our fast deteriorating world and climate.”
“We urge strongly the Davao City Council to junk the Aboitiz’s coal project as this will contribute 1.8 M tons of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere per year, thereby adding further heat to our already feverish planet and alarming changes in climate,” he added.
Failed
At the past two hearings of the Davao City Council on the proposed Aboitiz project, it was learned that the company failed to convince their critics that the project will be safe for the environment and people’s health.
“Aboitiz failed to show an Environmental Impact Assessment study, so there is no way for the City Council to approve the project…if the members of the council will truly weigh the facts, then Aboitiz’s coal proposal is already a lost case,” said Dr. Jean Lindo, convenor of the No To Coal-Davao.
“If a true health and biodiversity resource valuation study would only be conducted, the council and the public would see that there is no way we should compromise the welfare of the future generation to Aboitiz’s coal plant,” Lindo added.
The City council will conduct another round of public consultation by end of May. [Lorie Ann A. Cascaro]
