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“They said that it’s for flood mitigation, but why are they dredging the offshore area and not the shallow part of the Banaoang River instead? The ships are scaring the fish away. What’s worse, some of the island’s coast has already eroded."
For years, residents of Barangay Paguludan-Salindeg in Currimao town have endured the impacts of solar energy projects in their community, including extreme heat and worsening flooding. These issues began with the construction of solar power plants by Mirae Asia Energy Corp. in 2016 and intensified when Nuevo Solar Energy Corp. started operating in 2023. Both power plants have a combined capacity of 85 megawatt.
“The people of Kauswagan are already suffering from the existing GNPower Kauswagan coal-fired power plant, which affects their livelihood from fishing, their health, and causes pollution in the area.”
Though Habagat’s seasonal pattern is predictable, its impact on municipal fishers remains overlooked.
At least 10 seabed quarrying projects are approved for utilization of marine sediment in Manila Bay, which Pamalakaya said, will be used for various reclamation projects in Manila Bay.
Climate activists said that Japan and ADB’s continued financing of fossil fuel infrastructure, particularly fossil gas, under the banner of “transition” or “bridge” fuels falls short of what the climate crisis demands.
“Quezon’s impacted communities and their supporters have spoken: we want a sustainable energy future, not coal or gas. Already, Meralco is facing much controversy for its skyrocketing electricity rates, unreliable services, and anticonsumer contracts,” said Gerry Arances, Convenor of national consumer group Power for People Coalition.
“This moment demands transparent governance and bold leadership, not empty promises. Corruption, delay, and disinterest are crimes in the face of disaster. Act now!”
The two-time energy secretary is the architect of the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001, which paved the way for the privatization of the entire supply chain of the power sector, and later on served as president of the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corporation, the office responsible for overseeing the privatization of the government's assets in the power sector, especially the National Power Corporation.
“The transition to green energy must not undermine consumers' welfare and interests."
“BBM said we should protect against climate change, yet he's the one adding to it now.”
Not enough attention has been given to the important fact that the normal operation of the plant would extract large volumes of seawater coolant, heat and radioactively pollute it and release it back into the littoral environment.
The creation of contradicting laws between institutions with overarching responsibilities and objectives shows how private interests creep in the development of public policy, effectively making its implementation so confusing that the safeguards in the law virtually become ineffective.
“We are already feeling the effects of reclamation, such as widespread and prolonged flooding every time there's a storm, and the loss of our livelihoods."
Our oceans are changing due to climate change. Destroying the remaining mangrove forests in Manila Bay will only increase the vulnerability of coastal communities, particularly those of marginalized fisherfolk and urban poor.
PAMALAKAYA cited the proposed 50-meter no-sail zone around each wind turbine as a major concern, warning that it would severely restrict access to traditional fishing areas.
“Nobody likes unnecessary risks, including businessmen. However, uncertainty will also affect ordinary consumers, whose economic activity is essential for the country's growth."
Giovanni Gabuli, who chairs the environmental group Pundok Sagop Kalikopan and works with the Bacay Fisherfolk Association, has long advocated against harmful reclamation projects affecting local communities.
“In development, we should all progress together with their project, right? That’s all there is to it. We are not involved in this kind of thing despite us, honestly, standing to lose a lot."
"We arrived here in Plaridel only to be told that the arraignment was canceled. This is part of the slow justice system in the Philippines. To begin with, there should have been no case filed against us, yet here we are, being made to suffer. Time and resources of environmental organizations and human rights advocates are being wasted."
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