by: ebabe

This is story about how women of Palupandan, Negros occidental dared to stand up against to these 3 big corporate and political power firms such as Covanta Energy, ABB Energy, and the Edison Global to protect their environment and children’s future against pollution. The story began when these 3 big power companies sought to build a coal-fired plant to their place ( Negros Occidental) The consortium , known as Central Negros Power Corporation, hope to generate 50 megawatts from the plant, which it would then sell to Bacolod city-based Central Negros Electric Cooperatives or Ceneco. The farmer Maria Luz Canto Galido, 47, owned and lived in less than 2 hectars plot adjacent to the sugar caned field that belonged to then-mayor Antonio Suatengco, Suantengco was keen to the plant on his land. But Galido who had 5 children aged 6 – 20. Didn’t like to sell her land because it is their only sourced for a living aside from the fact that she’s worried for her children’s health.

Since mayor couldn’t personally and openly campaign for the coal plant, he sent his brother and his lawyer to meet the farmers, they was trying to convince the farmers on the benefits they and other people could get, like employment. They wanted them to sell their land in not good price. And when the farmers showed opposition they treat them that the local government will stop the irrigation that flowed into their land.

The people of Palapundon have their reason to opposed and get afraid about the propose future plant because it wasn’t the first plant to come to palunpadan, the people knew what to expect. There is a plant that produces power for local Corporation, you can see the black smoke belching coming out of the pipes. An environmental impact assessment made by Ogden constructed consulting firm Woodward Clyde Philippines established that Palupandan waters contained high level of cadmium, lead and hexavalent and Chromium –metal by the distillery’s coal-fired power plant that has toxic effect to on fish, wildlife, and humans resulting in physiological and abnormalities, kidney damage,

Liver damage, neurological problems, anemia and cancer to name a few.

Because of the said negotiations between farmers and officials, the latter thought that farmers are still passive as before and bunch of illiterate and wouldn’t understand what’s going on. And few days after some local people largely led by women, had banded together and formed the people of Palunpadan against the coal-fired power Plant. (PPAC)They explained the other side, the danger of pollution from the plant, and since they know they were in the positive side Galido and his family toured to convince their relatives, not to back the plant. And the people’s supports started to poured in. Teachers, principals risking their profession as they held lesson and school debate on the coal-plant though teachers are not dictating children but the survey shows 96% were against the plant , teachers knew that joining the rally, shouting and waving banners made great impacted. Later on several families from Palunpadan that reportedly have large land holdings joined the forces. January of 2002 when Conressman of 4^th district of Occidental Mindoro Charlie Cojuanco openly backed the plan and in the year 2003 a year after the issue arose opposition have learned that (DENR) Department of environment and natural resources was issued the proposed coal plant a environmental compliance certificate.

But, due to massive protest it was withdrawn in October of that same year.

The Central Negros Power Corporation filed a civil case against DENR . The battles went on for another two years with both sides fighting either for the reconciliation of the plan or its defeat. But the women’s effort bore fruits when in January 2004, The Bago City Trial Court dismissed the cased against DENR and not so late in that same year government issued that designated Negros as the model for renewable energy utilization, Under this framework, no new fossil fuel installation can be built and the hope is that eventually the old ones will be phased out. Though not quite documents the framework is influential enough to overturn the projects like the 15 megawatt diesel fuel plant that was proposed in 2005.

Now the residents of Palunpadan Negros Occidental can now breathe easily but they still aware that there will be more battle like this in the future. But they believe voice, action, determination is best defense against any treat.