Proposed coal-fired power plant in Cebu threatens residents' health and livelihood

A new proposed 300-megawatt coal fired power plant in Brgy. Sawang Calero, Cebu threatens residents’ health and livelihood and a possible eviction from their homes. Ludo Power Corp. (LPC)’s proposed project shares a wall with the community and is situated in the middle of the barangay, only a few meters away from an elementary school, an orphanage, and the dried fish industry which serves as the livelihood for the people in the community.

The community initially protested the project in 2016 and was successful when the city council voted no for the project. However, with the change of government after the elections, the project has silently moved forward and is now at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for endorsement. The city council voted 10-4 to endorse Ludo’s project to the DENR. The endorsement is required in securing operational and environmental approval for the Ludo and Luym Coal power plant project.

“We really won’t agree to it, no matter what they will do. We were born here, we were sent to school here, we have lived here all our lives. My ancestors are from this town,” said Anna*, one of the residents from Brgy. Sawang Calero.

“Just because we are poor, does that mean we don’t matter? We voted for these people who are in the council, they should be protecting us, but instead they are protecting a corporation,” she added.

For their part, LPC said that if they get the approval to operate, they will help Cebu City with projects such as construction of mini hospitals, a fire substation, and street lighting in four barangays. They also plan to give out scholarships. But residents aren’t convinced.

“Our houses will be covered with ash, our waters will be contaminated. We will get sick,” Anna said.

Coal ash is one of the biggest by-products of coal-fired power plants. According to the Environment Protection Agency (EPA), coal ash increases the risk of cancer and other diseases and contamination with water can lead to arsenic poisoning. Similar complaints about the San Miguel and Petron coal-fired power plants have been made by residents of Limay, Bataan where residents have seen an increase in lung problems after the operation of the plants. San Miguel and Petron have since denied that the diseases have been caused by the burning of coal in the area.

The proposed Ludo coal fired power plant will also be near the sea and will inevitably contaminate sea waters which fishermen of the community rely on for their livelihood.

“The Ludo spokesperson, even to a certain extent, couldn’t deny the fact that the water is going to be polluted with certain chemicals,” said Danica, one of the protesters of the coal-fired power plant.

“They're downplaying the side effects and making it seem like its all based on conjecture and unfounded worries,” Danica added.

The community also faces possible eviction, despite Ludo’s initial promise to the residents that there will be no relocation. However, according to the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board (HLURB), there needs to be a 100 meter buffer zone between the property and the community.

In 2016, the city council opposed the said project for environmental reasons, as well as “lack of social acceptability,” and non-conformity to the city’s zoning plan.

According to their report: "Under current guidelines, a power plant capacity of 30 MW is considered environmentally critical. Therefore, the proposed Coal-Fired Thermal Power Plant by Ludo Power Corporation with a capacity of 300 MW is an Environmentally Critical Project (ECP) and poses significant environment impacts.”

Residents of Sawang Calero have been taken aback by the change of tune from the new city council.

“Our campaign worked last year because we said we will not vote for them come elections if they agree with the project. But now that they are in office, everything changed,” said Sheida Henry, another resident of Sawang Calero and one of the active protesters in the community.

Yesterday, President Rodrigo Duterte signed the Paris Agreement, an international treaty that makes the Philippines part of a global movement to reduce carbon emissions. While many seemed hopeful, it is dirty energy projects that get the government’s nod like Ludo that still create a cloud of worry among climate advocates.

The residents, however, plan to take the issue to Sec. Gina Lopez, who has publicly advocated for renewable energy. The Ludo coal-fired power plant project is only one of the more than 30 approved coal-fired power plants to be built in the next 5 years. — TJD, GMA News

Renee Juliene Karunungan is the Communications Director and climate justice campaigner of Dakila. She is also a Climate Tracker following climate issues and negotiations both locally and internationally.

The opinions expressed in this essay are the author's own and do not reflect those of this website.