ILOILO City – One coal-fired power plant is enough for Antique.
The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Antique passed an ordinance prohibiting the construction of new coal power plants in the province.
Approved on Feb. 21, Provincial Ordinance No. 2020-194 cited the ill effects of coal power plants to the environment.
“As an agricultural province with most of its population being farmers and fisherfolk, Antique can ill afford to bear the destructive effects of coal power on agriculture and fisheries, such as thermal pollution, coal ash re-suspension and spillage to water bodies,” read part of the ordinance authored by Provincial Board member Karmila Rose Dimamay.
It further cited the government’s Climate Change Commission’s Resolution No. 2016-001 that at a global level, coal-fired power plants are the biggest source of man-made carbon dioxide emissions which account for 35 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions.
“While the Philippines is not one of the major contributions of carbon emissions, we nevertheless have a duty to reduce the impact of our (coal) consumption and have an energy mix that is not dependent on coal,” the ordinance added.
Antique has one coal-fired power plant. It is in Semirara Island – where coal is being mined – under the jurisdiction of the municipality of Caluya. It is being operated by the Semirara Mining and Power Corp.
Under the ordinance, administrative sanctions will be imposed on any government official and government employee – in accordance with Chapter 4, Section 60 of the Local Government Code of 1991 and Civil Service Rules – who shall seek, assistor work for an endorsement of new coal-fired power plants in the province.
Antique’s Cong. Loren Legarda commended the Provincial Board. She said the ordinance will help the province reduce harmful emissions and pursue resilient and sustainable development while protecting the environment and safeguarding the health of Antiqueños.
“We have to wean our economies from over dependence on coal and other fossil fuels. Proliferation of new coal-fired power plants will only contribute to our own destruction and will only go against our commitment to reduce emissions to ensure livable communities today and for the future,” said Legarda
Coal-fired power plants are the country’s top source of greenhouse gas emissions and the primary cause of global warming, she said.
“Our goal to reduce carbon emissions will be impossible if we will continue to allow the construction and operation of additional coal-fired power plants. Thus, this crucial action of our local government is a vital step towards climate resilience,” Legarda added.
Previously, other provinces have issued coal-free local legislations such as Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Ilocos Norte, Guimaras, Sorsogon, Bohol and Occidental Mindoro while the cities of Sorsogon, Masbate and Ozamiz have issued similar ordinances.
“We must continue to lead the province towards the better path of resilience and sustainability. Let us keep in mind that the survival of the present and future generations depends on the decisions and actions that we make today,” said Legarda./PN
