Philippines: Thousands protest against planned coal-fired power plant in Iloilo

Iloilo, Philippines, 5 March 2008 — Thousands joined an ecumenical
prayer rally in Iloilo City today in protest against a proposed 164 MW
coal fired power plant, which if built would contribute to global
climate change and lock the country in a dirty energy cycle for years to
come.

Led by Catholic Bishops Council of Philippines (CBCP) President
Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, the interfaith rally sends a strong signal to
proponents of the coal-fired power plant they are not welcome in the
city. Hundreds of students from St. Paul’s University formed a ‘QUIT
COAL’ sign to call on local and national government officials to reject
coal.

The Philippines is ranked number one on the global climate risk index in
2007 because the country is in a typhoon belt and many of the low-lying
islands are under threat from sea level rise. Coal-fired power plants
account for 36% of the country’s total CO2 emissions.

“Filipinos have realized that climate change is a real threat to the
country and are rejecting coal, one of the major contributors to global
climate change. People instead seek for better solutions offered by
renewable energy from wind, sun or geothermal resources,” said Jasper
Inventor, Climate and Energy Campaigner of Greenpeace Southeast Asia.

On this exact day four years ago, the people of Iloilo rejected a
proposed coal-fired power plant in Banate, a town approximately 40
kilometers from Iloilo city.

Other communities across the country have also rejected proposed
coal-fired power plants. In 2002, Negros booted out a proposed
coal-fired power plant and led to the declaration that the province
becomes a model for 100% renewable energy development. In 2006, the
Philippine National Oil Corporation stopped its coal fired power plant
project in Isabela after opposition from residents.

Over the years, the residents of Iloilo and nearby Negros province have
joined Greenpeace in urging for a switch to clean energy use in the
country. The Philippines’ wind energy potential is estimated to meet
seven times the country’s total energy demand. However, clean
technologies such as wind, solar and modern biomass represent less than
0.2% of the overall Philippine power mix in spite of promises from the
Arroyo administration to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

“Instead of harnessing the growing public opposition to climate damaging
coal-fired power plants to help enable the shift towards greater use of
renewable energy systems, the government sadly remains fixated on
prolonging the country’s deadly addiction to polluting energy plants.
Climate change is far too great a risk for Filipinos that coal should
altogether be phased out of the country’s energy mix,” Inventor concluded.

Greenpeace is an independent, campaigning organization which uses
non-violent, creative confrontation to expose global environmental
problems, and to force the solutions which are essential to a green and
peaceful future.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Jasper Inventor, Climate and Energy Campaigner +639173009567
Grace Duran, Media Assistant +639178860662

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