GBPC: Anti-coal rally doesn't reflect people's sentiments
Archbishop Angel Lagdameo mingles with the anti-coal Rallyist
Global Business Power Corporation (GBPC), proponent of a 164 megawatt coal-fired power plant downplayed yesterday's ecumenical prayer rally against the proposal to put up a coal-fired power plant here.
Lemuel Fernandez, media and public relations consultant of the GBPC, said that the protest rally is not representative of the sentiments of the people of Iloilo City. He said their numbers is very small, the protesters numbered only 500 at most.
But the organizers of the rally said at least 1,000 joined.
Unlike last week's inter-faith rally on the national broadband scandal controversy, Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines president and Jaro, Iloilo Archbishop Angel Lagdameo took an active part, to the extent of carrying a poster at one time and posing with members of militant group Gabriela who were dressed as skeletons.
Religious and members of church-based organizations, environmental groups, professionals, students mostly from Catholic schools in the City and militants participated in yesterday's protest at the Provincial Capitol grounds.
Shortly after lunch, protesters began marching from the St. Clement's church in La Paz and Sta. Teresita church in the downtown district to the capitol grounds for the ecumenical rally.
The coal-fired power plant is a hot issue among residents of Iloilo City.
Proponents say that a coal power plant will solve the projected power shortage in Iloilo in 2010, and that it would spur development.
Opponents of the project, especially the Responsible Ilonggos for Sustainable Energy and Greenpeace, say that geothermal plants in the Visayas region have more than enough power supply. They also raise concerns about the impact of a coal-fired power plant on the environment and the health of the people.
"We respect their position," Fernandez said. "We've said our piece, we leave it to the people," he added.