San Carlos Bishop Gerardo Alminaza led environmental groups in demanding from the Negros Occidental Sangguniang Panlalawigan to revoke the Resolution of Non-Objection (RONO) it issued to the proposed construction of a 300-megawatt Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Combined Cycle Power Plant in San Carlos City.
“We maintain that the resolution of non-objection from the Provincial Board is premature, invalid, and is not representative of the multiple stakeholders from San Carlos, who openly objected to the LNG project during the public scoping,” Alminaza said in a statement.
The proposed LNG project will be undertaken by the San Miguel Corporation-owned Reliance Energy Development Inc. (REDI-SMC).
Alminaza said the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of the project is still under preparation by the proponent, and under DILG Memorandum Circular 22-018, an LGU cannot issue a Letter of No Objection without an EIA, adding that the non-objection resolution is invalid.
“We appeal to board members of the SP to adhere to their duty in protecting the interests of our people and the health of our environment,” Alminaza said, adding that “this is being echoed by our fisherfolk communities in San Carlos, who stood up against the project during the public scoping.”
Environmental groups urge leaders, both from the city and the province, to stand in solidarity with residents of San Carlos and all stakeholders in protecting Tañon Strait, promoting healthy and sustainable fishing communities, and maintaining a fossil-free city.
Alminaza said that while San Miguel Corporation pulled out of its coal plant plans in San Carlos City, it simply replaced it with another fossil fuel that is no less dangerous.
“We already know that while it is true that LNG would produce less carbon dioxide than coal, it will instead release large amounts of methane in the atmosphere which can trap heat at a much greater capacity for a period of time. It makes no sense for Negros Occidental to turn to fossil gas when we have overflowing renewables that are more than enough to meet our power needs,” the bishop said.
“Negros Occidental is known for being the Renewable Energy Hub of the Philippines, and the continued lack of RE development is becoming questionable. It’s ironic that the vast RE potential of the province remains untapped, while Negrosanons continue to suffer with high electricity prices,” said Griderick Alila of Konsyumer-Negros.
Youth-led environmental groups also warned that the project would generate increased shipping traffic that will affect the Tañon Strait Protected Seascape, which has been declared an Important Marine Mammal Area, and will destroy marine habitats, mangroves, and wetlands along the shoreline, generate pollution, expose local communities to various hazards, and would impact the livelihood of coastal communities in the long-term.
“REDI’s LNG plant is a great threat to the communities dependent on the Tañon Strait Protected Seascape. Noise pollution from shipping activities heavily affects the capacity of dolphins and whales to detect prey, since they use echolocation to navigate the waters. Disrupting already fragile ecosystems is nothing but a death blow to our climate-impacted communities and the livelihood of our fisherfolk,” Bianca Montilla, co-convenor of Youth for Climate Hope, said.
“It is high time that our leaders invest in supporting the development of RE infrastructures that have the potential to lower electricity prices, instead of building new power plants dependent on imported fuel, which is highly vulnerable to price shocks from the international market,” Av de Torres, deputy executive director of the Center for Energy, Ecology, and Development, also said./GB
