Thousands protest against planned coal-fired power plant in Iloilo

Manila-- Thousands joined an ecumenical prayer rally in Iloilo City in protest against a proposed 164 MW coal fired power plant, which if built would contribute to global climate change and lock the country in a dirty energy cycle for years to come.

Led by Catholic Bishops Council of Philippines (CBCP) President Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, the interfaith rally sends a strong signal to proponents of the coal-fired power plant they are not welcome in the city. Hundreds of students from St. Paul’s University formed a ‘QUIT COAL’ sign to call on local and national government officials to reject coal.

The Philippines is ranked number one on the global climate risk index in 2007 because the country is in a typhoon belt and many of the low-lying islands are under threat from sea level rise. Coal-fired

power plants account for 36% of the country's total CO2 emissions.

“Filipinos have realized that climate change is a real threat to the country and are rejecting coal, one of the major contributors to global climate change. People instead seek for better solutions

offered by renewable energy from wind, sun or geothermal resources,” said Jasper Inventor, Climate and Energy Campaigner of Greenpeace Southeast Asia.

On this exact day four years ago, the people of Iloilo rejected a proposed coal-fired power plant in Banate, a town approximately 40 kilometers from Iloilo city.

Other communities across the country have also rejected proposed coal-fired power plants. In 2002, Negros booted out a proposed coal-fired power plant and led to the declaration that the province

becomes a model for 100% renewable energy development. In 2006, the Philippine National Oil Corporation stopped its coal fired power plant project in Isabela after opposition from residents.

Over the years, the residents of Iloilo and nearby Negros province have joined Greenpeace in urging for a switch to clean energy use in the country. The Philippines' wind energy potential is estimated to

meet seven times the country's total energy demand. However, clean technologies such as wind, solar and modern biomass represent less than 0.2% of the overall Philippine power mix in spite of promises from the Arroyo administration to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

“Instead of harnessing the growing public opposition to climate damaging coal-fired power plants to help enable the shift towards greater use of renewable energy systems, the government sadly remains fixated on prolonging the country's deadly addiction to polluting energy plants. Climate change is far too great a risk for Filipinos that coal should altogether be phased out of the country’s energy mix,” Inventor concluded.