Activists yesterday backed the resolution of the Cebu City Council calling for a moratorium on the construction of more coal-fired plants in the province.
Members of the Sanlakas party-list Cebu Chapter and urban poor group leaders raised their opposition to plans to put up five more coal-fired power plants in Cebu.
Teody Navea of Sanlakas told Cebu Daily News they sought a meeting with the Department of Energy (DOE) to clarify the public consultation processes involved in the approval of power plant projects.
“We are here to clarify the guidelines and we questioned why there was no active people’s participation when the projects were proposed,” Navea said.
Roland Menezes, supervisor of Energy Resource Development and Utilization, heard the activists on behalf of DOE Regional Director Antonio Labios.
In a resolution approved last week, the City Council of Cebu wanted the government to impose a moratorium on the establishment of coal-fired power plants to mitigate the impact of climate change.
Burning of coal is the leading source of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions – the most abundant greenhouse gas.
Environmentalists warn that huge concentrations of greenhouse gases, mostly CO2 in the Earth’s atmosphere is causing rising temperatures which is melting polar ice and glaciers, resulting in sea level rise and more frequent and more severe storms.
“The City Council was very supportive of our concern since we raised our advocacy to them to stop approving coal fired power plants,” Navea said.
Cebu as an island province has been identified as at risk to sea-level rise as manifested in the frequency of landslides and floodings because of above normal rainfall.
Menezes listed down the activists’ concerns but refused to comment or make any commitments claiming he lacks authority to do so.
Cebu is home to four coal-fired power plants located in the cities of Naga and Toledo, with five coal-fired power plant being proposed.