Protest staged vs coal-fired power plant in Davao Sur

DAVAO CITY, Philippines—Close to 300 people within the communities affected by the proposed coal-fired power plant of the Aboitiz Power Corporation marched to the Inawayan gym at 10 a.m. Monday where company officials were set to present the environment impact assessment study of the project.

Juland Suazo, convenor of the group No To Coal, said the people were mostly members of the Muslim fishing community in barangay Inawayan in Santa Cruz, Davao del Sur and the adjacent communities of Binugao in Davao City within the impact area of the project.

He also said the 52-hectare area affected by the project included a Muslim cemetery in Inawayan.

Although barangay officials in Binugao and Inawayan endorsed the project, residents said they were not consulted.