By Nitz Arancon and Rey Zaldy Serna
THE environmental watchdog Sulog yesterday launched a signature campaign against the plans of Filinvest Development Corp.-Misamis Power Corp. and the Mindanao Energy Systems to build more coal-fired power plants in Misamis Oriental.
With the launch of the signature campaign came a threat by environmentalists to bring officials of the environment department to court.
“If dili sila maninaw niining among demand, mosangko gyud ni nga issue didto sa korte,” warned Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) regional director Orlando Ravanera who is Sulog’s chairman.
Ravanera said Sulog is already studying administrative and criminal charges against certain officials over the issuance of environmental clearance certificates (ECCs) in favor of Filinvest and Minergy.
Sulog claims that the DENR issued the ECCs without conducting proper public consultations in violation of environmental laws.
As Sulog led demonstrators outside the regional office of the DENR in Macabalan here, Iglesia Filipina Indepiendente (IFI) Bishop Felixberto Calang went public with his support for those opposing the planned construction of the Filinvest and Minergy power plants in Villanueva and Balingasag towns, respectively.
“I and my church IFI have a similar call, I hope the discussion on this issue snowballs with our lead,” reads a message sent by Calang to Bangon CDO chairman Nixon Baban.
Roman Catholic Archbishop Antonio Ledesma sent Ada Estrepa to represent him. She led the launch of the anti-coal-fired power plant signature campaign yesterday.
Sabdullah Abubakar, regional director of the Environment Management Bureau (EMB), said Ravanera and his group were spewing lies.
He said there were public consultations conducted before the DENR issued the ECCs.
One was conducted on May 2, 2013 at the Villanueva town gym in Misamis Oriental, he said.
Abubakar said the DENR issued the ECC on May 27, 2013 without any endorsement coming from local DENR or EMB officials contrary to Ravanera’s allegation.
Abubakar said in the case of Filinvest, its application for an ECC was directly sent to the office of Environment Secretary Ramon Paje.
He said while he welcomes the demonstrations, he said Sulog and concerned citizens should also consider that the government would not allow projects to be carried out without compliance to environmental standards.
“The Philippines has set stadards as far as pollution is concerned,” said Abubakar.
Abubakar denied any wrongdoing, saying “correct and proper regulations and procedures are being followed” by the EMB regional office.
He said, “It is beyond the control and dictates of my office if investors are not into alternative sources of power that they are mentioning.”