The National Democratic Front (NDF)-Negros unites with environmental defenders, the church sector and other concerned groups and citizens in opposing the recently announced expansion of Therma Visayas Inc. (TVI), the Aboitiz-owned coal-fired power plant operating in Toledo City, Cebu, near the protected Tañon Strait. Without consideration of its extremely dangerous effects to both ecology and economy, the Department of Energy (DOE) allowed the proposal without any delay.

No matter how Aboitiz Power Corp. claims and packages TVI’s expansion, it is a ‘good example’ of the worsening effects of privatization and deregulation on the energy sector—skyrocketing electricity prices amid low-quality services. From the onset, the reliability of coal in power generation has been challenged by environmentalists.

TVI’s expansion provides more harm than benefit, if any. It will continue to affect livelihoods including those relying on the Tañon Strait, which is both a major fishing ground for Cebuano and Negrosanon fisherfolk and a marine sanctuary.

The expansion project is no different from the large-scale dislocation of urban poor and fisherfolk in both Dumaguete and Bacolod City, in Negros Island. From super and smart cities to coal-fired power plants, these so-called ‘development projects’ are actually tailored to expand the reach of big compradors and landlords in cahoots with bureaucrat capitalists, that serve their own ruling class interests. This is but another neoliberal scheme pushed by the reactionary government to pocket more profit.

Despite an existing moratorium, the DOE willingly backed the Aboitiz project, once again proving that existing government institutions are rubber stamps and brokers of big businesses to facilitate further exploitation of both the masses and the environment. There is an intensifying trend of neoliberal projects being approved left and right by the DOE, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and other government agencies that require the utmost resistance of the people.

NDF-Negros together with its allied revolutionary organizations adds its voice and strength to the broad people’s movement against TVI’s expansion. The revolutionary movement in Negros commits to upholding and protecting the Filipino people’s rights and the environment, in this case the Tañon Strait. There will be further suffering from neoliberal assault unless there is collective and strong opposition.

Furthermore, the reactionary government’s puppetry also underscores the fact that only the People’s Democratic Government can bring about proper environmental protection alongside the promotion of sustainable livelihoods for the people through genuine agrarian reform and national industrialization. There can be no peace without economic and environmental justice. Thus, the revolutionary movement will continue to struggle to replace the current rotten ruling system.