Climate Walkers to GNPower: 'Get out from our land!'

KAUSWAGAN, Lanao del Norte—“GNPower, get out from our land!”

These were some of the words echoed by some 200 climate walkers as they took their demands in front of the Ayala-affiliated GNPower where the 540 MW coal-fired power plant is currently being constructed in a 100-hectare land on July 23.

“Our rights were devalued”, said Moning, in her 30s, one of the hundreds of displaced locals of barangay Libertad due to the construction of the coal plant between two barangays teeming with marine life protected-sanctuaries. She added, “They [LGU] forced us to be relocated even when we do not want to”.

In the first quarter of the year, more than 300 households suffered displacement because of the construction of the coal plant set to be fully operational by 2017.

A few months ago, the affected residents of Kauswagan allegedly received threats, harassments and false promises from their mayor and from GNPower staff. They already took their demands to the provincial government but the promises of help from the officials remained afloat.

“If we can’t rely on the government [to give action on the on-going struggle], the people will speak up, demonstrating the resistance to what destroy the people and the environment,” said Remo Fenis, CoRe Movement head secretariat.

A day before the GNPower demonstration, the climate walkers also rallied to the municipal hall but was met by some ill-mannered officials.

The 7-day 92-kilometer climate walk and coal resistance march started on July 19 in Lala, Lanao del Norte and will end on July 25 in Iligan city.

The environmental advocates come from Lanao del Norte, Ozamiz City, Iligan city, Cotabato, Maguindanao and Caraga Region to participate in the march.

The walk is spearheaded by the Coal Resistance Movement with partner organizations including the Philippine Movement for Climate Justiuce – Western Mindanao.