Church worker and coalition member Ian Villas scored how SMC is using the government’s cash-for-work program under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) as an adjunct to its signature campaign for the approval of the coal-fired power plant.
BY JOHN RIZLE L. SALIGUMBA
Davao Today
Malita, Davao del Sur — A church-led coalition is bracing an uphill-battle against the entry of San Miguel Corporation Global Power’s coal-fired power plant in this town.
The Church People’s Advocacy for the Integrity of God’s Creation – Malita (CPAIGC-Malita) is wary with the moves by one of the country’s powerful corporations to make it turn out that the community is accepting the environmentally harmful power plants.
Church worker and coalition member Ian Villas scored how SMC is using the government’s cash-for-work program under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) as an adjunct to its signature campaign for the approval of the coal-fired power plant.
“They had it side-by-side with the cash-for-work of the 4Ps (program). So who would not sign? If you don’t sign, you will not be given a card,” lamented Villas.
He said that in the 85 GKKs (Basic Christian Communities) he is handling where most are indigenous peoples, the people signed because of their dire economic condition. He was able to obtain a file of the paper that the people signed and it was labeled “consultation.”
The town’s IP representative from Poblacion, Datu Sofronio Sumunday, claims there were consultations on the coal-fired power project done in eight barangays under his watch.
When asked who sponsored the symposium, the IP representative said he does not know who the organizers were as he was also invited.
Residents have become aware of the ill-effects of the coal-fired power plant to the environment and livelihood, ironically, by attending the SMC forum which, allegedly was only held to promote the “sugar and honey” aspects of the plant.
Dr. Dario Morastil, a fisheries expert and a professor in the Fisheries Department of Southern Philippines Agribusiness and Marine Aquatic School of Technology (SPAMAST), said that the plant threatens the marine ecosystem.
“The plants will draw 36,000 gallons per hour per day for its cooling system. (In the process) it will make the seawater warmer, more saline and increase chlorination which will kill phytoplankton,” Morastil said.
The destruction of marine life is also destructive to a community-based coastal resource management which Morastil and SPAMAST has been teaching to its students. The program advocates sustainable fishing and coastal management practices to help coastal communities benefit more from the taking care of the coasts.
CPAIGC is doubling efforts to educate residents about the effects of mining with a recent forum with Kalikasan partylist.
Dr. Jean Lindo, third nominee of Kalikasan partylist, delivered the message that coal is not safe contrary to corporations are selling.
She mentioned a study by Nobel awardee Physicians for Social Responsibility entitled “Coal’s Assault on Human Health” published in 2009 that said “coal combustion emissions damage the respiratory, cardiovascular, and nervous systems and contribute to four of the top five leading causes of death in the U.S.”
The struggles of the group against SMC continue, as recently, a letter from the municipality was delivered to the Mailta Parish for a ‘Project Public Scoping on the Proposed Power Plant of SMC GLOBAL POWER HOLDINGS CORP’ on September 13 addressed to Fr. Robert Lagos, Parish Priest of Sto. Rosario Parish, Malita.
According to Fr. Joey Evangelista, chair of the CPAIGC, the invitation came from the LGU but was signed by SMC Global Power general manager Ellen D. Go. The letter elaborated “the meeting aims to provide the public with an overview of the Project and its component as well as create an avenue for the public to express their issues and concerns pertinent to the Project.” (John Rizle L. Saligumba/davaotoday.com)
