Dutertes clash over coal-fired power plant

DAVAO City—Even after Mayor Sara Duterte vetoed the city council’s land reclassification ordinance that will pave the way for a 300-megawatt coal-fired power plant in the city, the controversial proposal is still alive. Her father, Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, said the veto has not yet killed the project.

Saying he has been consistent in his support for the project of the Aboitiz Power Corp., the elder Duterte said the city council was going to meet soon to override the mayor’s veto and push through with the coal-fired plant in the city.

“Once the city council finally overrides the mayor’s veto, the mayor will have no other choice but to implement it because it has been mandated upon her by law,” the vice mayor said.

“In the end, it is the city council that will decide. The one who is supreme here is the people,” he said.

“The legislative body, composed of elected city councilors, is here to pass legislation,” he added. “I have made my stand and I have been consistent (in pushing through with the project).  I have visited the coal-fired plant in Villanueva (Misamis Oriental), but I still have to see someone who died of cancer,” Vice Mayor Duterte said.

The mayor earlier cited the dangers posed on human health and the environment as her reasons for vetoing the ordinance. She said she could not compromise health and the environment for an energy source that has been rejected by most countries in the world.

Although environment groups lauded the mayor’s stand, they were worried that the city council would override the veto.

Jean Lindo, co-convenor of the No-to-Coal group, called on the public to rally support behind Mayor Duterte and Councilor Leah Librado, who has been consistently opposing the ordinance because of the danger it posed to human health.

“Unless there is real change of heart among members of the city council, there’s a very big chance that they will only override the mayor,” Lindo said.

She called on the public to tie green and pink ribbons and wear green and pink shirts in support of the two women.