Davao residents urged to spurn coal power plant

DAVAO CITY, Philippines—The environmental group Greenpeace urged residents of the city to reject the proposed 300-megawatt coal-fired plant in Barangay Binugao in Toril District here, warning that it was a “clear threat to sustainable development in Davao and the rest of Mindanao.”

“Coal will only bring problems—not solutions—to Davao. There is no benefit at all in hosting a coal plant,” Greenpeace said in a statement.

The construction of the coal-fired plant is being undertaken by Aboitiz Power.

“The gains from this project are only for the developers, Aboitiz Power, and will come at a great cost to Davao citizens,” said Amalie Obusan, Greenpeace climate and energy campaigner for Southeast Asia, adding coal “is the dirtiest fossil fuel and a main driver of climate change.”

“There are hundreds of examples around the world where communities around coal plants suffer the impacts of environmental damage and health problems,” Obusan said.

The Davao City Council has yet to come out with a decision on the Aboitiz proposal but recently, the project got a boost, despite opposition from residents, when the Binugao barangay council issued a resolution endorsing its construction.

Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte has also been very vocal in supporting the project, arguing that it will not only generate jobs but will also help solve the energy crisis in Southern Mindanao.

But Greenpeace said the feared energy crisis can be addressed by the already available clean and renewable energy sources that only need to be utilized.

“There is clearly no point to this coal proposal when so much clean renewables are ready for Davao now. The City Council must realize that the stimulus to keep Davao City on track to being a sustainable city, a liveable city, or even the region’s premier eco-city is in their hands,” Obusan said.

In Magsaysay, Davao del Sur, the Department of Energy announced it will build solar power stations starting next month.

Quoting a department advisory, Mayor Jess Lumanog said at least 145 families in three villages will benefit from the project.

“The project will provide them the much-needed electricity,” he said, but they will still have to pay for it.

Households which want to be connected to the power stations need to pay P1,000 as registration fee and P200 in monthly dues.

“But it’s better than using kerosene lamps,” Lumanog added.