Members of the Northern Negros Alliance against Mining and Coal yesterday condemned the ongoing magnetite and silica mining in Sagay City and the approval of the establishment of the coal fired power plant in Cadiz City.

Fr. Romeo Tagud, secretary general of the Promotion of Church People’s Response and a member of the alliance, said sacrificing the health and livelihood of the people and the destruction of the environment is against the will of God.

He said that such projects will not bring development to Negros but only destruction of the environment and health of the people.

Tagud claimed that the dredging program has been conducted in Sagay and residents have reported that siltation occurred in the nearby rivers due to it, and that it will only cause problems to the people as their livelihood will be affected.

Fr. Gilbert Bellena of the Rural Missionaries of the Philippines also expressed support for the fight against the establishment of the CFPP and the ongoing mining in Cadiz and Sagay cities.

“We cannot compromise our health and the security of the people for the sake of development,” Bellena said.

He said there are alternatives like water, air, and solar power plants to meet the energy shortage.

He also questioned the promotion of the coal fired power plant when the United States of America has shut down all of its CFPP operations.

Tagud also called on other groups and environmentalists to join the cause of the alliance and support its call in the fight to stop the environmentally hazardous activities conducted in their areas. *LTG

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