Heavy rains brought about by the Low Pressure Area (LPA) formerly Tropical Depression Domeng has flooded residential areas in this city Thursday evening, an official said.
Marbel Bishop Dinualdo D. Gutierrez told DavaoToday that “the prelates of Mindanao are hoping that President Aquino will now heed our calls to stop the Tampakan project, discerning on the protection and preservation of the environment and the life of the Lumad inhabitants in South Cotabato.”
Heavy rains brought by a low pressure area (LPA) spotted east of Hinatuan, Surigao Del Sur Wednesday caused major rivers in Davao del Norte to swell and displaced 158 families in the town of Asuncion.
The Davao City Council approved anew on Tuesday the expansion of the generating capacity of Aboitiz’ Therma South Incorporated (TSI)’s coal-fired power plant up to 650 megawatts.
Residents of Typhoon Pablo (International Name: Haiyan)-hit town of Cateel, Davao Oriental said they were discouraged by a barangay official and an Army officer from joining a rally last month that demanded “fair distribution of food and other relief materials”.
Groups commemorating the 19th year of the passage of the country’s law on large-scale mining opposed a Congress bill passed yesterday which allowed changes in the Philippine Constitution such as lifting foreign ownership restrictions.
The increasing need for energy globally has apparently also lead energy producers to a “fossil fuel addiction”, with coal energy becoming the “single biggest source of carbon emissions globally”, said the Philippines’ Climate Change Commission.
Government may find it an “expensive emergency measure” to put up coal-fired power plants to address the power crises in the country but more especially in Mindanao, the country’s climate change lead negotiator in the United Nations said.
“The P40, 000 per family demand of Abbat is enough for a family of six to their daily subsistence,” Simbajon added
He said that, “(I)f this situation will go further and the victims remain victims, they will be the ones calling for Aquino’s ouster.”
The Philippine government thanked donors all over the world simultaneously in billboards all over the world during the 3rd month anniversary of Typhoon Yolanda last February 8—a move which a relief group found ironic as they saw the state of poverty and neglect among survivors here.
