Chapter 39
We Said No!! To Coal-Fired Power Plant. The
Proponents Blinked!!
An
organized citizenry actively opposed, the Coal-Fired Power Plant project. The Proponents blinked! And the project was not pushed through. The people fought. They succeed.
Rev. Roger
Esclares, Pastor of Banate Baptist Church shares the
people’s struggle to fight and defeat the dangerous Coal- Fired Power
Plant approved to be built in Banate by local and national leaders. He said:
The
year 2003 was a year of fears and apprehensions, for many residents of Banate,
about 50 kms., north of Iloilo City. The same fear was felt by other people in
the towns around Banate –to the last towns in Estancia and Carles in the north
and other towns going to Iloilo
City in the south. The fears of ashes
and fumes from the coal-fired power plant, that will be carried through many
areas by the winds.
In
Barangay San Salvador, Banate, a
100-megawatt Coal- Fired Power Plant was set to be built by a multi-national, Korean Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO). Their
plan to built the Coal-Fired Power Plant was approved by the Mayor and the Municipal Councilors of Banate. It was
endorsed by high officials of the provincial and national government. It was
part of the electrification project signed
by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo when she visited South Korea in
2002.
The
Secretary of the Department of Energy and Natural Resources (DENR), the Senate
President, of the Upper House of Congress and the Governor of the Province of Iloilo
have endorsed the Coal-Fired Power plant project.
We
knew this was not good for the health of
the people. But what shall we do? We
faced the most powerful people in the munipality, the province and the country.
But
we saw the power of the people. The churches, the NGO’s, the people’s organizations, the militant
groups. Many people saw the project as
hazardous to the health of the people, the environment and Banate Bay, a major source livelihood for many fishermen. Banate Bay will be polluted by the operations
of a coal-fired power plant. It will sucked to death millions of fish larvae every
year. It will deplete the sea of fish
between Panay and Negros Island. There were groups
of people that have started opposing the project.
National
and local government officials pushed the project because it will provide jobs for the people. They said more electric power would be needed the
next 10 years. But study by enviromentalists showed there
was mis-information. There were no immediate shortage of power in Panay.
The
existing energy source was capable to
meet the need in Panay the next
decades. The government was
challenged by our people to work
for hydro-electric powers as these were cleaner
than coal-fired power plants. And there were several existing rivers
in the island, capable of driving hydro power. People also believed the
strategic power industry must not be
handed over to foreign power corporations. Electric and other sources of
power must be owned by the government. These were
essential services needed by our people.
Together
with pastors, priests and church leaders of Baptists, Evangelical churches and some catholics in Banate, Barotac Viejo, San Rafael we have
participated in leadership training -political and electoral education,
environmental protection and advocacy works – by Alternative Resource Development
Center, Inc. and “Hour of Discover” Radio Ministry the last 2 years from 2002-2004.
The trainings were held in 11
barangays/villages where there were
sizable members of Baptist and
Evangelical churches. Catholics and Aglipayan church members, were headed by their priests and worked to oppose the coal-fired power
plant in Banate.
We
also attended a radio broadcast training by
“Hour of Discovery” , with the plans of
Manila Broadcasting Company (MBC) to
open community radio stations in Banate.
They have already opened a community station in Barotac Nuevo, Estancia
and Passi. Our training will be helpful
if some of our pastors in the churches will decide to start a radio broadcast ministry.
These
trainings have contributed in my
development as a pastor enriching the spiritual life of our people and deep commitment for
advocacy works and change. The studies gave me new perspective for my
ministry. From our study of history and
current events, I learned the major
reasons for our people’s poverty –concentration of our country’s lands and
wealth in the hands of few very rich people and the
continued control of foreign power of our country’s government and
resources.
These
challenged me to participate in the works for social, economic, social and political change.
These
trainings prepared us to participate in
the ecumenical efforts in 2003, when our
municipality became the seat of a
controversial project we believed must be opposed and rejected –the coal-fired
power plant to be built in San Salvador village, Banate.
A
wider ecumenical movement rose to opposed KEPCO. We in the Baptist & Evangelical churches
worked together with the CPBC
Development Ministries. The Catholics and Aglipayans (Iglesia Filipina Independiente) were
mobilized by their priests and church leaders. Sectoral organizations – the
militant Bayan Panay, Madiaas Ecological Movement, Iloilo Code NGO and RISE
mobilized their groups. “Banatenhon Against Coal-Powered Plant” rose strongly
opposing KEPCO.
We
mobilized several rallies in Banate
attended by wide groups from Carles, Estancia, Balasan and towns
Anilao, Barotac Nuevo, Zarraga and other towns to Iloilo City. The rallies in
Banate held at the Gymnasium were always full. The people were united to fight
KEPCO.
A
Congressional Public Hearing was held in
Banate, Iloilo thru the recommendation of
Partylists Congressmen. The Public Hearing was attended by thousands of
people from the northern, central and southern
part of Banate.
In
order that our voices will be heard more strongly and clear, we mobilized people to attend the Mass Rally in
Iloilo City. The rally was timed with
the Human Rights Day Celebration in Iloilo City. People from Banate, Barotac
Viejo, some from Carles and Estancia joined. There were
34 buses, trucks and jeepney
carrying ralliests from Banate and
Northern Ilollo to the Human Rights Day
Celebration in December 12, 2004 at the Provincial Capitol.
The jeepney of
Pastor Rudy Bernal, which he drove was mounted
with powerful amplifier with 2 strong trumpets, leading the rally. “Struggle songs” were sang by the Sound System while the 40
buses and jeepneys were moving on the
highways.
Baptists pastors, headed by Rev. Joel Valdez rode the
Jeepney with the Sound System. We moved fast from Banate to the
Iloilo Capitol ground, were thousands ralliests from Central and
Southern Iloilo joined the Human Rights Celebration, that also calls the government to disapprove & reject the operations of Coal-Fired Power Plant in Banate.
Why
Selected as Most Significant Story
The
united voice of the people against coal-fired power plant was raised across the
nation. The Governor of Iloilo and the
Senate President heard thundering voices of the people thru the media carried
across the nation. They withdraw their
support for KEPCO. Hour of Discovery Program, with broadcast from DYFM, GMA Radio in Iloilo and DYVR radio in
Roxas City also carried the people’s opposition on coal-fired
power plant.
In
Malacanan, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo heard the strong voices of the people of Banate and Iloilo. She was pressured to withdraw support for
KEPCO. Likewise the Governor of Iloilo, hearing the demand of the people, the
Iloilo Provincial Board passed a Resolution rejecting KEPCO’s Coal Powered
Plant in Banate. Democracy works when
the people unites and fought for their rights!
But
both the Philippine President and the
Governor of Iloilo, pursued the plan to establish, coal-fired power plant in the municipalities
of Barotac Viejo and Concepcion, Ilollo. But the people in the two
municipalities also strongly opposed coal-powered plant in their town, even
if President Arroyo and Governor Niel Tupas
were pushing for it. The people have to protect their invironment, health,
their sea as source of livelihood, for
all years of their lives and the future generation.
In
Iloilo City, the Coal Fired Power plant was
pushed by another coal-fired power plant company. There were opposition. But it was not a strong and
determined opposition. Almost all the
officials of Iloilo City Council supported the Coal fired Power Plant. The
militant and environmentalist groups like Madyaas Ecological Center continued
the struggle. But the people of Iloilo was silent.
And
the Coal-Coal Fired power plant was started/
Many residents affected by the smoke, ashes and fumes. Many were reported sick. But the Coal-fired
power plant continued. Their was no more
opposition from the people of Iloilo. They were silenced.
Added Value
by Diakonia
The
support of Diakonia enabled Alternative Resource Development Center, Inc.
(ARDC) and “Hour of Discovery” to finance
the educational and advocacy seminars in eleven (11) barangays with
Baptist and Evangelical churches in Banate – providing food for lunch and
snacks educational materials, transportations and honorariums for resource persons. These made it possible for
me and my partners to take part in
education and advocacy works and part of the people’s struggle for change.
Thank you, Diakonia.
Lessons
Learned and Recommendations
A wider ecumenical advocacy works was the success of the
people’s opposition to KEPCO.The greed
for profit by multi-national corporations, supported by local elites and
oligarchs was revealed in the
struggle. The elitist democracy showed
its ugly face through the project that does not care for the people’s health, source of people’s
livelihood, environment and the future
of the next generation
The success of the peoples
opposition was possible because of
people’s unity –social, sectoral, religious and ideological –all barriers were broken in the fight against
KEPCO and its allies among the powerful.
Project
Title: Consolidated Educational and Advocacy Works with Tri-Media
Implementing
Partners: Alternative
Resource Development Center, Inc.
Project Location: Banate, Iloilo
Story
Teller: Rev. Roger Esclares
Storywriter Hesther Bernal
Written: December 18, 2004
Domain: Changes in People;s Organizational Capacity
PARTNERSHIP
IN DIVERSITY
Final
Evaluation of Diakonia Philippine Programme
PARTNERSHIP
IN DIVERSITY. Published December 2007
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