SC help sought vs coal plants

A member of the militant group Sanlakas at a recent rally in front of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources head office in Quezon City demanding a stop to construction of more coal-fired power plants. —NIÑO JESUS ORBETA

Environmental groups and Limay, Bataan, residents have finally turned to the Supreme Court to stop new “dirty coal” power plants and penalize plants violating the law.

Led by Philippine Movement for Climate Justice (PMCJ), the petitioners asked the tribunal on Friday to issue a temporary environmental protection order against new permits for coal-fired power plant projects.

“We are finally filing a case to seek the intervention of the Supreme Court against the total disregard of the laws of the land by our own government,” PMCJ national coordinator Ian Rivera said.

The other petitioners include Philippine Earth Justice Center Inc. and Environmental Legal Assistance Center as well as residents of Limay, Bataan, which hosts a coal-fired power plant.

The petitioners accused the Department of Environment and Natural Resources of not doing its duty under the Clean Air Act to curb air pollution and sanction coal-fired power plants not equipped with monitoring systems.

They also accused the Department of Energy of not doing its duty under the Renewable Energy Act to promote renewable energy.

Limay residents said they joined the petition to point out the hazards of coal energy based on their experience.

Cheryl Magracia of the town’s Barangay Lamao said residents had fallen ill due to pollution, which had also damaged their water sources and plants.

“Every minute we have to sweep away the ash from the coal plants. Our right to a decent and normal living has been put aside for the sake of business profit,” she said in Filipino.

Gerry Arances, national coordinator of Center for Ecology, Energy and Development, said the case tested the government’s resolve to uphold the Paris Agreement on reducing carbon emissions.

The Philippines was among more than 50 countries that signed up for the landmark international pact to reduce greenhouse gas emissions which President Duterte earlier questioned but later agreed to support.

Sanlakas secretary general Aaron Pedrosa, who heads the PMCJ’s energy working group, said it would be “impossible” for the country to honor its commitment if coal plants continued to proliferate.