TUBOD, LANAO
DEL NORTE - In celebration of the 117 years of Philippine Independence, the
CoRe (Coal Resistance) Movement gathered different fisherfolk communities and
organizations in Lanao del Norte for a community education on the effects of
harnessing coal as a source of energy.
“Communities
need to be educated about the impacts of coal-fired power plants since these
are the immediate communities that will be directly affected”, said one of the
CoRe members who gave the input.
The
fisherfolk villages in Lanao del Norte source their livelihood from Panguil Bay
which shelters several marine protected areas and is home to a number of unique
endemic marine species. Panguil Bay sustains thousands of fisherfolks from the
province. Once the 540 MW coal-fired power plant in Kauswagan fully operates by
2017, it would discharge different toxic chemicals (mercury, lead, uranium,
etc.) in the bay area and shall be ingested by marine organisms such as fishes
and shells. These chemicals will cause serious health problems once eaten by
humans.
“The sea is
the reason why we can send our children to school. It is our main source of
livelihood”, worries one fisherman. Most of them were dismayed as to why the
government allowed such projects to be implemented.
The participating
organizations were NAKATUKI (Nagkahiusang Kabatan-onan Tuboran sa Kinaiyahan),
BAYWATCH (Baybay Women Transportation for Chance), LASFO (Lamac Small
Fisherfolks Organization), PYSO (Pigcarangan Youth Service Organization),
NAKATA (Nagkahiusang Katawhan sa Tangueguiron), KNL (Kababayen-ang Nagkahiusa
sa Lamac), PIFO (Pigcarangan Fisherfolks Organization), KEP (Kids for
Environmental Protection) and, KMBD (Kahugpungan sa mga Mangingisda sa Baroy
Dacu).
The Coal
Resistance (CoRe) is a movement established by various civil society
organizations in Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur and
Iligan City against coal-fired power plant and any other processes that demand
for the massive extraction and usage of coal minerals.
June 12, 2015
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