Environmental advocates call to ‘save Tañon Strait’ vs. Aboitiz coal expansion

More than 50 organizations from Negros and Cebu in central Philippines on Wednesday jointly released a statement rejecting the expansion of Aboitiz Therma Visayas Inc.’s (TVI) coal-fired power plant in Toledo, Cebu, saying that the project will ‘contribute to the destruction’ of Tañon Strait, the country’S largest marine protected area (MPA).

The signatories were from church leaders and formations, renewable energy advocacy groups, labor groups, youth organizations, and fisherfolk associations within the Tañon Strait area.

They said that the TVI coal expansion runs contrary to the Extended National Integrated Protected Area System (ENIPAS) Act, a national law that safeguards critical biodiversity hotspots. The ENIPAS includes the Tanon Strait, an MPA situated between the two island provinces of Cebu and Negros, said the statement. 

“Tañon Strait is well-loved and nurtured by both the people of Cebu and Negros, because of the life it gives to its surrounding communities. This beautiful work of creation is among the few marine havens we have left, and we should protect it from any threat – especially threats from coal that should have been long phased out due to its grave impacts on the environment and human lives,” said Bishop Gerry Alminaza of the Diocese of San Carlos in Negros Occidental.

The Tañon Strait is a key biodiversity area and major fishing ground totaling 521,018 hectares, and an important marine mammal area (IMMA) with a documented 14 species of whales and dolphins, including the endangered Irrawaddy dolphins. 

The joint statement also expressed alarm over the project’s violation of the 2020 coal moratorium that the Department of Energy (DOE) implemented and questioned DOE Secretary Lotilla’s decision to greenlight TVI’s coal expansion. Given Lotilla’s prominent former position as Lead Independent Director of coal proponent Aboitiz, the groups cited the issue of conflict of interest. 

“Last month, coal industry players - reportedly including businesses associated with Aboitiz - rallied support for Lotilla amid graft charges filed against the DOE Secretary for violation of the coal moratorium through the DOE’s endorsement of TVI. A statement in support of DOE was published by the Management Association of the Philippines and 8 other business groups,” said the statement.

"Data shows that coal plants are the main culprits behind 51% of the forced outages in the past five years. Endorsing the expansion of the TVI coal plant signals that the DOE is prioritizing outdated energy sources over the well-being of our ecosystems and future generations. Why build more plants that are unreliable and are one of the biggest threats to marine and coastal areas? Coal belongs in the past, and what DOE should be doing is to enforce a phaseout instead of giving permits to more coal projects,” said Krishna Ariola, Energy and Climate Program Head of Center for Energy, Ecology, and Development.