ABOUT 20 climate justice advocates from Kauswagan municipality and Iligan City staged a protest Wednesday morning at the Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC) branch in Iligan, calling on the bank to divest from coal and other fossil fuel projects.
The peaceful demonstration, which began around 10 a., was organized by the Iligan-Lanao Movement for Climate Justice (ILMCJ) in coordination with the Philippine Movement for Climate Justice (PMCJ) – Lanao team. Participants included fisherfolk and other affected sectors from Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte, along with support groups from Iligan City.
The group delivered a follow-up letter to branch manager Lani Castro, reiterating demands first submitted on April 25. The letter urged RCBC to stop financing coal projects, which they said threaten local livelihoods and worsen the climate crisis.
“We are here to remind RCBC that their investments have real consequences. Communities like ours in Lanao are already facing the impacts of climate change, and continued support for coal only deepens our struggles,” said ILMCJ spokesperson Maria Santos.
Castro received the letter but did not issue a formal acknowledgment.
She reportedly committed to forwarding the group’s concerns to RCBC’s legal team and invited a representative to return Thursday for updates.
After handing over the letter and briefly speaking with bank officials, protesters moved outside, holding placards and chanting slogans condemning fossil fuel investments.
“Banks like RCBC have the power to make a difference,” said PMCJ-Lanao coordinator Ramil Dela Cruz.
He added: “We will keep pushing until they fully divest from coal and commit to clean, renewable energy.”
RCBC has faced growing pressure from environmental groups in recent years to end its coal financing. Climate advocates accuse the bank of contributing to environmental degradation and climate injustice.
The demonstrators said they will continue their campaign until financial institutions fully shift toward renewable energy financing.
