LIMAY, Bataan — Thirty young men and women, joined by some adults, held here on Sunday a sit-down protest against the operation of coalfired power plants in Bataan while questioning the cutting of trees along the Roman Highway.
The protesters silently held various placards in front of coal-fired power plants in Limay town.
“Ako na nakabalot ng itim ay simbolo na ang planta ng coal ay nageemit ng maruming usok at napupunta ito sa komunidad na malapit sa planta. Nadadamay ang mga tao na naninirahan sa komunidad,” Jewong Capatoy, coordinator of Young Bataenos Environmental Advocacy Network (YBEAN), said.
He recalled that in January 2017, there was an ashfall allegedly coming from the coal plant that affected residents of Barangay Lamao.
Jess Dizon, YBEAN spokesperson, said they were holding sit-down strike as part of the observance of the weeklong Global Climate Strike from September 20 – 27, 2019.
“Parte ito ng activity ng YBEAN kung saan ang mga kabataan ay naninindigan sa isang malinis na source ng kuryente,” she said.
“Hindi kami nandito para manggulo, magsimula ng kahit anong unpeaceful na gawain. Nandito kami para makita ng kapwa namin kabataan na taga-Bataan na may nangyayaring isyu dito na dapat naming aksiyunan.”
She said that the young men and women with them came from various schools and communities affected by the coal power plants.
“Nananawagan kami sa kapwa namin kabataan na more than job opportunities, trabaho o ano mang industrialization na mapoprovide ng kumpanyang ito, ang makita sana natin ang mas malalim na epekto nito sa kalusugan natin at kalusugan ng mga magiging anak natin,” the youth leader said.
“Ina-advocate namin ang renewable energy na meron tayong option, meron tayong choice hindi ang coal lang ang solusyon para magkaroon ng kuryente ang Pilipinas,” Dizon stressed.
She noted that this has already been done in Negros, and Bataan should do the same: “Naninindigan kami para sa adbokasiyang ito at sana marinig kami ng nasa itaas at gawan nila ito ng aksyon dahil naniniwala kami na kaya ng Bataan na mag-change into renewable energy.”
