BACOLOD City – Bishop Gerardo Alminaza of the Diocese of San Carlos City is urging local government officials to abandon the proposed construction of a coal-fired power station in Negros Occidental.
Alminaza led the anti-coal protest at the Capitol Lagoon Park during the inauguration and oath-taking ceremony of newly-elected provincial officials on Saturday.
He said they denounce the coal plant’s “harmful effect to people and the environment.”
“We call on the city government of San Carlos and the provincial government of Negros Occidental to disapprove any proposal or application of SMC Global or any company at all for a coal-fired power plant project,” said Alminaza.
He also warned that backing dirty and dangerous energy resources would “stain” the UN’s recognition of the city as one of the world’s most livable cities.
Last year, bishops from Bacolod, Dumaguete and Kabankalan dioceses also expressed their opposition to the proposed coal plant project.
The bishops urged people to “safeguard the gains and success we have achieved so far in improving our renewable energy sources and the huge projected excess power supply.
San Miguel Corporation’s power unit SMC Global Power Holdings reportedly wants to build a 300-megawatt coal plant in San Carlos.
SMC Global said they received clearance from the Department of Energy to conduct a grid impact study, a requirement before a power firm can proceed with the construction of the project./PN
