Save Tañon Strait’ campaign launched

CEBU, Philippines — Environmental advocates from Negros and Cebu has gathered to launch the ‘Save Tañon Strait’ campaign, aimed at protecting the Tañon Strait seascape from the potential threats posed by the expansion of a coal-fired power plant in Toledo, Cebu.

Yesterday, environmental groups expressed concerns over the environmental impact that the expansion would bring to one of the country's most biodiverse marine areas.

This was after Thermal Visayas Inc. (TVI) owned by Abotiz, 150-megawatts (MW) plant in Toledo City, which is slated to be operational by 2028 was exempted from the moratorium of the Department of Energy.

As previously reported, DOE spared TVI in order to “provide stability of power supply”, while renewable energy generating sources are still building up.

With this, advocates emphasized that the proposed expansion would not only pollute the water and air but also threaten marine biodiversity and disrupt the local fishing communities dependent on the healthy waters of the strait.

According to Archbishop Gerardo Alminaza from the Archdiocese of San Carlos, Negros Occidental is calling on “intergenerational justice”.

“We owe it to our ancestors but to our future generations, to our children who are still to come to really be equipped to give them a better enhanced world not a destroyed world,” said Arch. Alminaza.

Tañon Strait, a protected seascape under Philippine law, is home to various species of dolphins, whales, and other marine life or “rich marine mammal diversity”.

The area was designated as a protected seascape under Presidential Proclamation issued in 1998 by then-President Fidel V. Ramos, to preserve its marine biodiversity and vital habitats.

Archbishop Alminaza, in his talk, revealed that there are 43,000 registered fisherfolks from 42 municipalities from Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, and Cebu that Tañon Strait is supporting in terms of livelihood.

He emphasized that economic development goes beyond just providing employment but should also focus on making natural resources more accessible and affordable for the poor to help sustain their livelihood.

Further, Atty. Kristine Joy Argallon of Philippine Earth Justice Center (PECJ) stressed on the importance of being critical in this proposed expansion of Aboitiz-TVI by making sure the requirements, clearances, permits and consultative measures are complied.

“We have to be critical with the different (projects) proposed in the area because kahit na proposed pa po, it's a threat to the area and not just we can’t afford to lose this biodiversity to harmful development activities,” said Argallon.

Under Department of Health-Department of the Interior and Local Government (DOH-DILG) Joint Administrative Order (JAO) No. 2021-0001, the Aboitiz-TVI coal expansion project is classified as a "health-sensitive project" and is required to undergo the Health Impact Assessment (HIA) process.

A Health Impact Clearance Certification (HICC) is granted if the project successfully passes the HIA review. Alternatively, a Certificate of Exemption may be issued if the project meets specific exemption criteria. These certifications are crucial for addressing health and environmental concerns, particularly those related to carbon emissions, toxic gasses, heavy metals, and other pollutants commonly produced by coal-fired power plants.

“We’re in a climate emergency so we can’t afford further energy sources that may cause harm to the environment and would further derail our energy plan or our transition to renewable energy,” Argallon explained.

Krishna Ariola, Fossil Fuel Phase Out (FFPO) Coordinator, noted that the Philippines is one of the countries with the highest potential for renewable energy, but has once again blocked its transition to clean energy sources.

“Na derail na naman po ang renewable energy transition ng isang bansa na bilang isa sa pinakamalaking may renewable energy potential sa buong mundo,” said Ariola.

“Ang nilalaban ay hindi lamang sa tanon strait hindi lamang sa Cebu at Negros kung hindi sa buong Pilipinas,” she added.

The Freeman tried to reach out to Aboitiz Thermal for a statement on the recent campaign, but no response was given as of press time.

On the other hand, in a previous event where AboitizPower Thermal Business Group Chief Operating Officer Ronaldo Ramos was present, he assured that the project will only happen once all permits and certifications are secured.

TVI's expansion of the coal plant in Toledo City is equipped with a "Circulating Fluidized Bed (CFB)" that will lessen emissions during operations.

“Businesses in Cebu have reported an average of three to four power outages per week, each lasting between one to two hours,” Ramos has said. —/ATO (FREEMAN)