Request for urgent action on coal and environmental issues

His Excellency President Benigno Aquino III, Republic of the Philippines

We are students from University of the Philippines-Cebu College, University of Cebu, Cebu Normal University and University of San Carlos. We have read a memorandum issued by the Department of Health (DOH), Memorandum No. 2010-0184, which is a health advisory on the possible hazardous effects of and protocol to be followed in coal spills and exposure to coal ash.

We commend and hereby convey our deepest appreciation to the Department of Health for its issuance of this long-overdue advisory. This is a manifestation indeed of its grave concern and the exercise of its responsibility to protect, promote and prioritize the right to health of the people.

The issue on coal fired power plant has long been raised in the attention of the public and of the government. The campaign against the existence of these coal fired power plants has been a long struggle. The impacts of coal fired power plant affect the whole community. Coal fired power plant operations contribute a great percentage on the changing climate.

Dr. James Hansen, the world's foremost climatologist, is even pushing for coal moratorium since coal is the biggest source of green house gas. In addition, coal fired power plants produce a great amount of coal ash as a byproduct, and which contains heavy metals like lead, mercury, cadmium and arsenic which are harmful to the body and our ecosystems. Carbon dioxide, Sodium Oxide and Nitrogen oxygen emissions cause acid rain; particulates cause asthma and other respiratory diseases, aggravates cardiovascular problems, diabetes. Fly ash is a pollutant under our Clean Air Act.

In Cebu alone, there are two big coal-fired operating power plants. These plants are not just hazardous to the people living there but they greatly affect the environment, their livelihood, and their lives. These power plant operators irresponsibly and indiscriminately throw the coal ash for years. Water in the artesian wells are contaminated, and so are the rivers, sea and land where they are dumped.Worse, the DENR and the local government units allow the dumping of the hazardous coal ash, to the detriment of the people and the environment.

As youth advocates for the environment, we are deeply alarmed by this callous disregard of our health and our environment. We have been part of many campaigns and advocacies that specifically address this problem. However, we see that there is a need for a greater leap and action.

We therefore request your full attention on this issue as it is the mandate of the President to protect, fulfill and promote the welfare of the people. You also promised us participatory, accountable, transparent governance.With the issuance of the DOH Memorandum, please gather your secretaries from the DENR, DILG, DOE and DOH and take concrete steps to address the issues related to coal operations in this country.

We also request you to make sure that all the branches and offices of the government take environmental issues seriously and be the environmental leaders themselves by not just complying with the environmental laws in their respective offices but to set the initiatives and examples. We urged you to join us- who stand to suffer the most from a cavalier treatment of our life support system - in our crusade for a greener environment.

We are filled with optimism for a positive reply and a progressive action from you. We are hopeful that you are with us, the youth, in our fight for the environment.

Jomar Colao (Cesdev) - University of Cebu

Christal Daño - Cebu Normal University

Kristian Jacob Lora (Luntian) - UP-Cebu College

Roxanne Jane S. Facurib (Luntian) - UP-Cebu College

Chyssa May Yares (Kabataan Party) - UP-Cebu College