Hagedorn opposes coal-fired plant

Puerto Princesa City Mayor Edward Hagedorn. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

After losing in the recent recall elections, former Puerto Princesa City Mayor Edward Hagedorn is now back to fighting for the environment.

In a statement, Hagedorn called for “a concerted civil society and national government action” to stop a planned coal-fired power facility in Palawan noting that this will destroy the province, tagged as the “last frontier” in the country.

The former Puerto Princesa mayor made the appeal a week after the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD) endorsed the DMCI Power Corp.’s (DPC) plan to put up the facility despite strong opposition from local communities.

He also slammed PCSD members headed by Palawan Gov. Jose Alvarez whom he said endorsed the DPC project. Hagedorn said Palawan communities rallied against the coal plant as it will pollute the province’s natural and biodiversity heritage.

“The PCSD railroaded this destructive project,” added Hagedorn.

The former mayor, who is known for his environmental governance initiatives, also accused Puerto Princesa Mayor Lucilo Bayron of “surrendering their authority to the tyranny of the PCSD leadership.”

“There was no proper debate on this project in the PCSD. The so-called consultations in the communities were rigged. There wasn’t even a proper proposal submitted by DPC technical studies,” Hagedorn added.

To stop the project, Hagedorn also appealed to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources not to issue an environment compliance certificate to the project.

“A typical coal-fired plant, like the one planned by DPC will release 3.5 million tons of carbon dioxide in Palawan every year. The forest cover of Palawan is not enough to absorb it,” Hagedorn explained.