6-hour protest walk: Green advocates make 23K trek vs coal plants

CEBU, Philippines - Heavy rains did not stop environment advocates yesterday from joining a 23-kilometer "Climate Walk" from the City of Naga to Cebu City to manifest their opposition to the establishment of another coal-fired power plant in Cebu.

Around 300 members of Greenpeace Southeast Asia, Climate Reality Project, Pusyon Kinaiyahan, People's Movement for Climate Justice, Pagtambayayong and partylists Sanlakas and Kabataan walked for over six hours, starting in the City of Naga at 6 a.m. and arriving in Cebu City at 12:25 p.m.

The walk was also meant to bring awareness to the public on the global movement to break free from fossil fuels, and to call on the government to turn towards renewable energy instead of the coal plants that pollute the environment.

They chose to start in Naga because of the city's coal-fired power plant operated by the Korea Electric Power Corporation-SPC Power Corporation.

The groups, consisting of students and non-government organizations members, converged in front of the Kepco-SPC power plant and walked towards Sawang Calero in Cebu City where the Ludo Corporation is located.

The Ludo Corporation is proposing to build a coal power plant in Cebu City.

Although the City Council last April rejected the proposal, the environment groups believe that proponents would be making another attempt to revive their plans.

Yesterday, the participants walked the whole stretch from the City of Naga to Cebu City, passing through Minglanilla and Talisay City. The route coursed through the Natalio Bacalso National Highway and the South Road Properties in Cebu City.

At the SRP bay, eight members of the Stand Up Paddlers (SUP-Cebu), who paddled at the Cebu harbor starting from Talisay City, meet up with the "walk" participants near the SM Seaside City at the SRP. The groups cheered on the banner-carrying paddlers, who then proceeded to the Pasil Fish Market.

 The "walk" on the other hand traversed the SRP viaduct near LUDO Corporation's plant, where participants stopped for five minutes to wave banners and tarpaulins.

Their next stop was the Cebu City Hall plaza, where they shouted their opposition against coal plants as they waved their banners.

 They later proceeded to Sawang Calero shortly before noon where a program was held near the LUDO factory.

Naderev "Yeb" Sano, Greenpeace Southeast Asia executive director, said the activity is similar to the walk protests they also hold in Batangas.

He said that they sympathize with the Cebu communities that protested against the operation of coal-fired plants and the proposals to build new ones.

The walk aimed at achieving an "absolute victory" in the campaign for a fossil fuel-free region.

Ludo Corporation has an existing 10-megawatt coal-powered plant to service the needs of its factory.

The proposal to establish an additional 300MW coal-fired plant in the same area is surrounded by a huge human population in barangay Sawang Calero.

 Among the groups that joined the protest included neighborhood associations in Sawang Calero, Dakila, students from the University of San Jose USJ-R, former US vice president Al Gore's Climate Reality Project, Sociedad Juvenil Activa (Mexico), Health Care Without Harm - Asia, Let's Do It PH, Seed4Com, and SUP Cebu.

Sanlakas-Cebu Secretary General Teody Navea, on the other hand, said they wanted to call the attention of government to help them stop from adding coal plants in Central Visayas especially in Cebu.

At present, 188 existing coal-fired power plants are operating nationwide. — Dale G. Israel, Bea Cara Caña and Jocel Monares (FREEMAN)