Saturday, 13 June 2015
CORE: Call Against the Construction of Coal-fired Power Plants in Iligan, Ozamis and Kauswagan, LdN
SUPAKON
ang PAGTUKOD ug COAL-FIRED POWER PLANTS sa ILIGAN CITY, KAUSWAGAN, LANAO DEL
NORTE ug OZAMIS CITY
Ang kinaiyahan
mao ang atong kinabuhi!
Kami nga mga
nagpakabanang katawhan sa Pilipinas nabalaka ug daku sa paspas nga proyektong
Coal (coal-fired power plants ug coal mining) sa nasud.
Dinhi sa
Northern Mindanao, ang Lafarge Cement Corporation buot motukod ug 20MW nga
coal-fired power plant sa Kiwalan, Iligan City samtang sa Pulot, Ozamis City
usab nag-apply ang Ozamis Power Generation nga motukod ug 300MW nga planta. Ang
usa sa pinakadakung planta niining tulo mao ang anam nga ginatukod sa Tacub ug
Libertad, Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte nga 540MW.
Tungod daw
kini sa kakulang sa tinubdan sa suplay sa elektrisidad apan gipamahayag mismo
ang National Grid Corporation (NGCP) nga adunay dili moubos 400MW nga sobra
suplay sa Mindanao. Gikompirma kini sa Mindanao Development Authority ug Mindanao
Power Monitoring Council (MPMC) nga may sobra pa nga suplay sa elektrisidad.
Samtang adunay
231 nga aplikasyon sa Renewable Energy projects sa Mindanao nga dili moubos ang
kapasidad sa 2,419MW. Buot ipasabot dili na kinahanglan ang mga proyekto ug
plantang Coal.
Ngano
nga angay kining supakon?
- Gub-on niini ang bahandi sa katubigan ug ang mismong dagat sa Iligan ug Panguil Bay.
- Modislokar sa daghang komunidad sa mga mangingisda sa Misamis Oriental, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Occidental, Zamboanga del Sur ug Iligan City nga usab nagkuha sa ilang panginabuhian sa dagat.
- Ang mga deklaradong Fish Sanctuaries ug Protected Areas (45 ektarya sa Kiwalan ug Dalipuga); 6 ka ektarya sa Tacub ug lain pang 8 ka sanctuaries sa Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte dugang pa ang 21 ka ektaryang kabakhawan sa kabaybayunan maapektuhan unya. Mamahimong mokunhod ang ihap sa mga isda ug hingpit nang maguba;
- Maguba ang Kinaiyahan tungod kay kining coal mao ang pinakahugaw nga tinubdan sa enerhiya ug mobuga kini ug mga kemikal sama sa mercury, uranium, abog ug uban pang makahilong kemikal nga mahiadto sa kahanginan ug katubigan, dugang pa ang epkto niini sa panglawas sa katawhan, gawas pa sa ilang pagmina ug coal dinhi sa Pilipinas nga mopatag ug mobungkag gayud sa kabukiran ug mawad-an na sa ilang Yutang Kabilin ang mga Lumad;
- Dakung magtatampo (contributor) sa kainit sa kalibutan ang coal tungod sa carbon dioxide nga ibuga niini ngadto sa kawanangan ug mobara sa kainit sa adlaw nga dili na makagawas balik sa kawanangan;
- Pagkabungkag sa mga Komunidad tungod kay bahinon man niini ang baruganan sa mga komunidad pinaagi sa mga saad ug hanyag nga material;
Panawagan:
- Tagaan ug igong gibug-aton ang tingog ug baruganan sa mga katawhan sa komunidad sa hisgutanang enerhiya ug uban pa;
- Hingpit na nga IDILI ang Coal plants sa Pilipinas ug ang hinanaling pagkansela sa mga permit sa pagtukod ug planta sa Iligan, Ozamis ug Kauswagan;
- Ibasura ang Electric Power Industry Reform Act nga nagtugot sa pag-pribado sa sector sa enerhiya ug mga proyektong coal sa nasud ug repasuhon ngadto sa pagpalig-on sa Renewable Energy Act sa Pilipinas dungan ang pagpanday ug balaod alang sa tinuod nga Renewable Energy ug Pampublikong Sektor sa Enerhiya;
- Imbestigahan ang mga pagpanglapas sa tawhanong katungod sa mga apektadong komunidad ug pagbayad sa mga damyos ngadto kanila ug ang papanubagon ang mga may kalabutan sa pagpanglapas.
- Transpormasyon sa Enerhiya ngadto sa Renewable Energy Sources;
_________________
Friday, 12 June 2015
Philippine Independence: July 4, June 12, -- or not yet?
It
was not until 1962 that independence day was effectively moved from July 4 to
June 12 as stated by RA 4166. Many think that July 4 is the more fitting date
since it was then that the United States have recognized Philippine
independence, others still stand with Pres. Macapagal’s move saying that
recognizing the independence declared by General Aguinaldo in Kawit, Cavite is
more reasonable. And then there is the slow and growing voice saying that we
are, in reality, not even free.
June 12 vs. July 4.
Action-packed is what sounds to be the major description of historians and
politicians of the June 12 declaration and this seems to be the reason why they
find it more appropriate to be remembered. As Pres. Macapagal put it, “I felt,
too, that July 4 was not inspiring enough for the Filipino youth since it
recalled mostly the peaceful independence missions to the United States. The
celebration of Independence Day on June 12, on the other hand, would be a
greater inspiration to the youth who would consequently recall the heroes of
the revolution against Spain and their acts of sublime heroism and martyrdom.
These acts compare favorably with those of the heroes of other nations.” But
what they seem to forget is that the said declaration did not even have the
slightest effect or even value when Spain ceded the Philippines to the United
States for $20 million in the Treaty of Paris. You cannot give what you do not
own. Given that Spain was able to cede the Philippines then it is safe to say
that no sovereign country recognized the Philippines as an independent state. Those
who paid attention to their history lessons will remember that the Philippines
did not remain free of a colonizing power long after that declaration.
On
the other hand, July 4, 1946 marked the completion of the 10-year commonwealth
transition stated in the Tydings-Mcduffie Act successfully passing a supposedly
independent republic to its first president Manuel Quezon.
But, this was not until the United States have made treaties cementing their
hold in the Philippines for centuries to come. These made sure that the
Philippines would remain self-serving to the interest of the US colonialists.
After all, why would the US invest $20,000,000.00 in the Treaty of Paris to
secure the Islands if there were no business returns? For years Free Trade
Agreements worked only to their end and yet they never failed to make us feel
we are a charity case. By further opening our economy for foreign investors and
privatizing key industries in lieu of loan opportunities we continue to be
chained under other countries’ interests.
When
it comes to Independence Day talks Filipinos seem to have their own dates and
reasons. The question now, Philippine Independence: July 4, June 12, -- or not
yet?
Liga ng Makabagong Kabataan
June 12, 2015
Coal Resistance Envi talks continue in Lanao del Norte fisherfolk communities
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
Envi advocates demand for a coal-free Philippines
ILIGAN CITY – Carrying the advocacy of a coal-free Philippines, Environmental advocates in the city marched for freedom from coal-fired power plants as a way to mark 117 years of Philippine Independence.
Organized by the CoRe (Coal Resistance) Movement, a signature campaign was simultaneously circulated throughout the city to gain more support from the people of Iligan city.
“We want to live in a country free from coal-fired power plants” were one of the several pleas displayed on placards by the advocates.
The freedom march was in response to the surge of coal-fired power plant projects throughout the country. In Iligan city, Lafarge Cement Corporation applied for an ECC (Environmental Compliance Certificate) in DENR to start the construction of the 20 megawatt (MG) coal-fired power plant while in Ozamis city, Ozamis Power Generation Inc. also proposed for a 300 MW coal plant. In Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte, the controversial 540 MW coal-fired power plant being constructed is set to fully operate by 2017.
According to inquirer.net, more and more Filipinos are growing consciousness on the impacts of climate change where 98 percent of Filipino participants were “very concerned” compared to 78.53 percent on world average.
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
Friday, 22 May 2015
DENR-EMB: ‘We cannot just say NO to coal-fired power plants’
 |
| Director Sabdullah Abubacar of Environment Management Board of DENR Region X answers questions and clarifications from the Coal Resistance (CoRe) Movement and Health Environment (HEM) |
“As long as they have complied the standards and requirements, I have no reason to say NO to the project”, Abubacar answered when asked about the surge of approved coal-fired power plant projects throughout the country.
Abubacar also added the Philippines has no existing law that prohibits coal-fired power plants.
Currently, the Philippines has 13 plants burning coal to produce electricity while another 45 coal-fired power plant projects waiting for the EMB’s Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) to start its operations. Some of them have started construction.
“I am not the investor so I cannot dictate them”, said Abubacar when questioned why the Philippine government has not been investing much on renewable sources of energy.
Kauswagan, LDN Power Project
When probed on the current situation of the displaced residents in Kauswagan, LDN (refer to previous articles) due to the 540 MW coal-fired power plant that is being constructed, Abubacar said that the affected locals should file a case addressed to the Multipartite Monitoring Team (MMT) of GNPower Ltd. Co. or to the EMB so they can conduct an investigation.
The Environmental Management Bureau, under the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, is the national authority responsible for pollution prevention and control, and environmental impact assessment.
Regional Director Sabdullah Abubacar is the chairman of the Multipartite Monitoring Team (MMT) of GNPower Ltd. Corporation that oversees the compliance the conditions set by the Environmental Compliance Certificate.
By: PrinsipeTibak
CoRe
Movement
Tuesday, 19 May 2015
Displaced Libertad locals refuse to sign ‘blank’ USUFRUCT Agreement
 |
| Around 321 families affected by the construction of 540-megawatt coal-fired power plant in Brgy. Libertda, Kauswagan, LdN are relocated. The rest rest of the relocation houses are still being built to accommodate the displaced families. |
In a statement read by Sally Pimentel, a displaced resident of said barangay, an LGU representative came over at the unfurnished relocation site provided to them by GNPower Ltd Co. earlier this month and convinced them to sign a ‘blank’ Usufruct agreement with unspecified details of the conditions.
In Article 562 of the Civil Code of the Philippines, Usufruct gives a right to enjoy the property of another with the obligation of preserving its form and substance, unless the title constituting it or the law otherwise provides.
However, it was found out that the obtained ‘blank’ USUFRUCT Agreement was already affixed with Kauswagan Mayor Rommel Arnado’s signature. It would only mean that the land and the relocation site are both owned by the LGU of Kauswagan, LDN not by GNPower Ltd. Co. Once the residents sign the Usufruct Agreement they can be uprooted anytime by the LGU should they violate any of the conditions – something that they dreadfully fear will happen. In the end, the residents will not be entitled a parcel of land.
 |
| Copy of the deed of perpetual usufruct distributed to the relocated families for their signature. |
“We only transferred to the relocation site because we were threatened that they will award the land title to another if we refuse to be relocated even when the site is still unfinished”, reads Pimentel of Purok 6, Brgy, Libertad.
According to the residents, the relocation site is far from being finished up until now. Doors and doorknobs are missing; the roads not concrete; no multi-purpose gym, health center and new barangay hall. Additionally, no disturbance fee was given to them for the damages done to their houses and livelihood.
“We will do our best to help you as lawyers and board members of the First District [of Kauswagan, LDN] so GNPower Ltd. Co. can finally give you justice”, promised 1st District Board Member Atty. Mac Dibaratun.
After the session, the residents rode back to Kauswagan with high hopes now that the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Lanao del Norte heard their pleas and won their sympathy.
Their battle continues.
By: PrinsipeTibak
CoRe Movement
***the story of coal-resistance of residents in Kauswagan is a story in progress.
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