Recent updates

29 May 2013

ENDANGERED COCKATOO AMID A STORM - by Redempto Anda, Philippine Daily Inquirer

Biologist Peter Widmann and his conservation group the Katala Foundation Inc. (KFI) has added their voice to the chorus of groups opposing the  construction of a coal-fired power plant in Rasa Island in Narra town, two hours south of Puerto Princesa City, saying the facility would pose dangers to the habitat of the nearly extinct Katala, local name of the Palawan cockatoo.  

09 May 2013

CONSERVATIONISTS MOUNT SIGNATURE DRIVE VS COAL-FIRED POWER PLANT IN PALAWAN - by Redempto Anda, Philippine Daily Inquirer

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Philippines–Conservation groups have mounted a signature campaign to stop a planned construction of a coal-fired power facility beside Rasa Island in southern Palawan, which is considered as the last remaining habitat of the critically endangered Palawan Cockatoo.

07 May 2013

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY – Nearly 70,000 signatures here and abroad have been gathered petitioning the Chair of the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development, Gov. Abraham Kahlil Mitra, to revert its decision against the proposal of the construction and operation of the DMCI coal power plant in Panacan, Narra, Palawan, Philippines. Most of the signatories are from people showing a sincere concern for Palawan and who are actual or potential visitors to this Province. The construction of the coal plant could severely damage the so far well-maintained image of Palawan as last ecological frontier and one of the most desirable ecotourism destinations.

Click here to view the Invitation to a Press Conference "No to Coal Plant in Panacan" organized by Katala Foundation, Inc. on 08 May 2013.

Click here to see photos. Thanks to "Clean Energy for Palawan" Facebook.

April 2013

NARRA CELEBRATES EARTH DAY AGAINST PROPOSED DMCI-COAL POWER PLANT - An online petition against the coal-fired power plant in Narra is launched on April 22 in Narra for Earth Day celebration. "Nagtayo kami ng petisyon at nakapagkalap na po kami ng signatures na sa ngayon po ay nasa dalawang libo na para tutulan ang coal-fired power plant na iyan sa Panacan" (We started the petition and we have more than 2000 signatures already who are against this coal-fired power plant in Panacan)", says lead petitioner Rolando "Landot" Esperancilla from Panacan.

Why sign the petition?

There can never be sustainability with coal-fired power plants. Take it from our own experience here in Pulupandan of Negros Occidental where we had been rained and spewed with particulate matters, coal fines, obnoxious and acidic smoke from the smokestack of a coal-fired alcohol distillery in our town. Our plants and trees were affected due to wilting and searing of the leaves when hit by acid mists from the distillery. Our homes are dirty of dusts, fly ash and coal fines rotting our nipa roofs and rapidly corroding metal roofs and other metal fixtures inside and outside or homes. Chronic cough and obstructive respiratory diseases are experienced during periods when the pollution from the distillery falls toward our place. Our drinking wells, canal waters and coastal waters when sampled for an EIA of the proposed 50-MW coal-fired power plant in 2000 showed that our waters were contaminated by heavy metals of lead, cadmium, hexavalent chromium and mercury in levels beyond the allowable levels set by the DENR. These heavy metals are naturally present in coal and coal ash from the said distillery were ones dumped around town for filling some of our low-lying and flood-prone areas. In 1999 to 2001, we had a long battle to stop the 50-MW coal-fired power plant proposed by the Central Negros Power Corporation. With our own experience from a 4-MW coal-fired power plant of an alcohol distillery in our midst, we opposed, get ourselves informed and educate the people in our communities, get ourselves united and we were able to stop the CNPC 50-MW coal-fired power plant. The Palawanons can do the same. Do not accept this project. - Ella Jacildo Pulupandan, Negros Occ., Philippines

February 2013

PALAWAN COUNCIL FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: STOP THE COAL PLANT NEAR RASA ISLAND WILDLIFE SANCTUARY! - Rasa Island in southern Palawan is the last stronghold for the critically endangered Philippine Cockatoo, but maybe its days are counted! This is a petition to the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development to withdraw the issuance of the SEP clearance for the construction and operation of a 15 MW coal-fired Power Plant by DMCI Power Corporation near Rasa Island.

Please help us, sign the petition and share to your network.

February 2013

PALAWAN COUNCIL FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT ENDORSES COAL-FIRED POWER PLANT IN LAST PHILIPPINE COCKATOO STRONGHOLD - Despite serious concerns from the civil society, the affected municipal government, environmental groups and experts, the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD) under the chairmanship of Governor Abraham Kahlil Mitra endorsed the construction of a 15MW coal-fired power plant in Panacan, Narra, Palawan. The proposed site for the plant is about a kilometer away from Rasa Island Wildlife Sanctuary which is home of a large number of globally threatened animal and plant species, including the critically endangered Philippine Cockatoo.

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