VICTORY! NARRA RESIDENTS AND COCKATOO CONSERVATIONISTS WIN CAMPAIGN AGAINST COAL PLANT WITH 6,000 SIGNATURES

After months of relentless campaigning and two petitions on Change.org calling to stop the planned construction of the coal fired power plant in Narra, Palawan, the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD) did not endorse the unconditional clearance for the plant.

On Friday the PCSD ruled to relocate the coal plant from its proposed site in the coastal barangay of Panacan where hundreds of fisherfolks reside. The proposed site is also right across the Rasa Island Sanctuary – home to the endangered Philippine cockatoo or the katala. The PCSD also required the coal plant to get endorsements from the municipal and provincial councils.

Katala Foundation’s Indira Widmann said the entire community is relieved to have averted the project in their vicinity. “It is not just about the Philippine cockatoo. It boils down to the people of Narra, Palawan whose lives will be in danger. Our petition on Change.org provided a venue for Filipinos all over the country to realize that the people of Narra are faced with a very critical issue. It also encouraged the people to speak up and voice out their concerns against the coal plant. This strengthened the community’s stand because in great numbers we were able to shift the decision to our favor. Every signature helped secure the future of the Philippine cockatoos from this threat, as well as the entire community of Panacan,” Widmann said. 

Widmann added that the overwhelming support they received on both petitions on Change.org made the people of Narra more determined and unafraid to oppose the coal plant. She said many residents religiously attended every PCSD meeting and made sure that the Council will not endorse the plant. Katala Foundation’s petition on Change.org gathered more than 4,000 signatures.

The PCSD’s ruling to relocate the coal plant also brings Panacan resident and fisherman Rolando Esperancilla’s petition to victory. His petition, signed by more than 2,400 people, called on the Narra Municipal Council and Palawan Provincial Council not to endorse the coal plant project. His petition had a partial victory last June when the Narra Municipal Council ruled to reject the coal plant. Esperancilla lives barely 300 meters away from the proposed site of the coal plant.

“Hindi ko lubos maisip na marami palang tumututol sa coal plant. Kung wala ang suporta ng mga taong pumirma ng aming petisyon sa Change.org, hindi naming makakayanang ituloy-tuloy ang aming protesta at maipanalo ito. Maraming salamat sa lahat ng mga pumirma. Pinalakas ninyo ang aming loob. Dahil sa inyo, nakarating po ang aming mga hinaing sa mga matataas na opisyal. Masayang masaya kami pero hindi pa tapos ang laban. Kailangan nating siguruhin na malayong malayo na sa Panacan ang relokasyon ng coal plant. Salamat din sa suporta sa amin ng Sangguniang Bayan ng Narra.” Esperancilla said.

When the victory on both petitions running since March this year was announced, Change.org Philippines Campaigner Christine Roque said, “This is a great example of how citizens can challenge power structures. When people get together, no issue is too small or too big for change. It is heartwarming to witness how thousands of Filipinos all over the country took a stand for the people of Narra. This is a true people-powered victory,” she added.

Change.org is the world’s fastest-growing platform for social change — growing by nearly two million new members a month, and empowering millions of people to start, join, and win campaigns for social change in their community, city and country.