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
Part of the series The Ministry Years (chapter 41 of 48)
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