Group opposes Toledo coal plant, Tañon exploration

The Cebu Alliance for Renewable Energy yesterday issued statements strongly opposing the planned expansion of the Mirant coal-fired power plant in Toledo City, and the oil drilling in Tañon Strait, citing health and environmental concerns.

CARE Coordinator Vince Cinchez said the Mirant expansion would mean ill effects to more families because the expansion of the coal-fired power plant means "expanding its toxic operation" also.

"No amount of re-organization can clean up the image of these notorious climate offenders," said Cinchez adding that the community would oppose this project similar to what it did against the Salcon-Kepco coal-fired plant projects in Naga.

Cinchez also accused Mirant of using its Philippine operations as "a milking cow" through the hapless consumers that turned out subsidizing it. "In the Philippines, consumers have been paying 110 percent of (Mirant) operations while dispatching 40 percent only of its mandated energy capacity."

CARE also stated its objection against the oil drilling operations in Tañon Strait claiming that such has drastically depleted the catch of small fishermen while threatening the marine sanctuary in the area.

CARE yesterday showed results obtained from its environmental investigative mission conducted, with representatives of Toledo City, last October 11 through 13.

The fishers' harvest dropped by 80 percent since the oil exploration started last May, said a representative of the Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas. From an average of 20 to 30 kilos of fish catch a day, small fisherfolks are now catching only an average of three to five kilos a day.

AMALAKAYA said fishermen had been earning an average of P1,500 a day before the drilling of the Forum Energy Corporation of Canada and Japan Exploration Corporation. Since then, their daily income fell further from P250 to P150 only.