Villagers oppose Davao Sur coal-fired power plant

Coal-fired power plant.

DAVAO DEL SUR, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Sept. 17, 2011) – Filipino boat racers and fishermen flocked to Davao del Sur province, site of a proposed coal-fired power plant in Mindanao, and joined the “Race Against Coal” to dramatize their opposition to the Aboitiz project.

“This initiative is one example of genuine bayanihan of Dabawenyos against a deadly coal power plant,” said Francis Morales, Secretary-General of the environmental group PANALIPDAN.

He said students, teachers, religious groups and environmental activists also arrived and joined the protest against the proposed fossil fuel plant.

Morales said studies show that sea water used for the cooling mechanisms of coal- fired power plants are returned to the sea at around 3 to 5 degrees warmer, fused with chlorine. This would affect marine life and will destroy coral reefs, he said.

“The affected communities have shown their unyielding opposition to the coal plant despite efforts by Aboitiz to buy them out and urged advocates from various sectors to give their continued support to them,” he said.