Green Convergence exec bucks coal plants in Negros

By Mary Judaline Partlow  December 13, 2018, 6:55 pm via Philippine News Agency

DUMAGUETE CITY – The head of the Green Convergence, a coalition batting for safe food, healthy environment and a sustainable economy, is urging local government officials and the people of Negros to reject the entry of coal-fired power plants in the island.

“I hope the people will clamor that it should not proceed,” said Angelina Galang, Ph.D., the president of Green Convergence, in an interview on Wednesday here, referring to the application for the establishment of a coal-fired power plant in Negros Occidental.

According to her, Negros Island (comprising the provinces of Negros Oriental and Negros Occidental) is rich with renewable sources of energy, and when complemented with efforts such as organic farming and massive greening/tree planting projects, it can become carbon negative in the future.

“Because coal is a big culprit in global warming, and you have renewable energy, so why go into coal?” she said.

And the whole Philippines can also go renewable, according to her, “because we have a lot of wind, solar, geothermal (power) and we have barely scratched the surface for solar,” she said.

Galang cited the 10 Million in 10 Years for a Greener Negros Movement (10M in 10) as a “big contribution” to the Paris Agreement on greenhouse gas emissions mitigation.

“It is very much a big contribution to bring down carbon emission, just as the other programs that I had also mentioned earlier,” she said, referring to organic farming, among others.

According to her, “fossil fuels are a contributor to climate change and global warming.”

“But by going geothermal and going solar, you are reducing your carbon source. And by planting trees, you are increasing your carbon sink,” she said.

“I don’t know if Negros might already be (carbon) neutral because you are emitting less and absorbing more. Meaning you are contributing more to solving the problem than being part of the problem,” she added.

Galang was the key speaker during the 3rd year anniversary celebration of the private sector-led 10M in 10, with the geothermal power leader Energy Development Corporation as its proponent, in ceremonies held in Dumaguete.

She also congratulated Negros Oriental for its firm stand in opposing coal plants in the province. (PNA)