ILOILO CITY, Philippines—The Department of Environment and Natural Resources has bucked calls of five Western Visayas governors to revoke a government permit for a coal-fired power plant in Iloilo City.

"We respect the position of the governors. But I hope they listen to the side of the DENR," Environment Secretary Jose "Lito" Atienza told the Philippine Daily Inquirer in a telephone interview on Monday.

Atienza said the environmental compliance certificate (ECC) for a coal-fired power plant would remain and could only be revoked in case of a violation of any provisions of the ECC.

The governors have written to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and issued a manifesto calling for the revocation of the ECC issued by Atienza to the Panay Power Corp. (PPC) and the Metrobank-subsidiary Global Business Power Corp. (GBPC) for the construction of a 164-megawatt coal plant at the PPC site in the village of Ingore in La Paz District here.

They said the project would create health and environmental risks to residents of Western Visayas. Those who signed the manifesto were Governors Salvacion Zaldivar-Perez of Antique, Carlito Marquez of Aklan, Victor Tanco Sr. of Capiz, Felipe Nava of Guimaras and Isidro Zayco of Negros Occidental.

But Atienza said DENR engineers thoroughly examined the technology to be used based on a similar plant in Taiwan.

"There is such thing as clean technology for the use of coal and we will closely monitor (the project) from construction to operation," he said.

Atienza said the governors should also look at the perennial power shortage in Iloilo and consider the needs of the Iloilo and Panay Island.

"We should keep an open mind on this and not deprive ourselves of coal technology while the wealthy nations use it abundantly," said Atienza.

Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas has scoffed at the governors for issuing the manifesto calling it a "violation of inter-local government unit (LGU) courtesy."

"Every community and LGU has the right to decide on its own on issue that affect their community. They should leave us alone because we don't interfere in their affairs," he said in a telephone interview.

The mayor considered the coal plant as the only viable option in securing additional sources of power for a city with no indigenous sources of power.

Environmental groups lauded the stand of the governors.

"This petition shows that Iloilo is fast becoming isolated on this issue. The province and city of Iloilo both want to remain in a dirty energy age by embracing coal while its neighbors are embracing a clean energy future. Governor Tupas and Mayor Treñas should join the flock and heed the call of its neighbors," said Jasper Inventor, International Climate and Energy Campaigner of Greenpeace International.

Greenpeace called on the President to declare the entire Western Visayas a "coal-free zone" and a regional model for renewable energy development.

The Madia-as Ecological Movement (MEM) also supported the governors’ call.

"We will complement their call with protest actions. Indeed, global warming caused mainly by coal emissions have reached an alarming state," said MEM convener Ma. Geobelyn Lopez.