PANALIPDAN Mindanao, an environmental alliance of Christian churches, Moro and Lumad organizations, environmental advocates, and grassroots communities, has strongly denounced the Department of Energy’s (DOE) recent issuance of a Certificate of Compliance (COC) for the Malita Coal-Fired Power Plant in Davao del Sur.
The decision, approved by the Marcos Jr. administration in November 2024, has drawn criticism for prioritizing corporate interests over Indigenous rights and environmental protection.
The 300-megawatt Malita power plant, operated by Malita Power Inc., a subsidiary of San Miguel Global Power Holdings Corp., has been labeled as using “clean coal” technology.
However, Panalipdan Mindanao dismissed the claim as greenwashing, citing coal as one of the most polluting energy sources.
The plant’s operations pose severe risks to local ecosystems, including the Malita River and the Davao Gulf, due to thermal and chemical pollution.
The daily consumption of 30,000 drums of water threatens freshwater resources, while encroachment on ancestral lands endangers the cultural heritage and livelihoods of the Tagakaulo people.
San Miguel Corporation (SMC), which also oversees coal mining in Lake Sebu, South Cotabato, has been criticized for its history of environmental and human rights abuses.
Panalipdan Mindanao highlighted the 2017 Lake Sebu Massacre, where eight Indigenous defenders, including leader Datu Victor Danyan, were killed while resisting land grabs linked to SMC’s operations.
The group described the massacre as a stark reminder of the human cost of corporate-driven exploitation and militarization of ancestral lands.
In Malita, SMC’s coal operations, conducted with Legenda Mines, have been accused of displacing the Tagakaulo people and violating their right to free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC).
Reports of coercion and deceptive practices in the FPIC process have intensified calls for justice.
Bishop Cerilo Allan Casicas of the Diocese of Marbel has declared a climate emergency, urging immediate action to halt destructive projects and protect Mindanao’s ecosystems.
Panalipdan Mindanao, alongside the Malita Tagakaulo Mission (Matamis) and affected communities, is demanding the cancellation of the Malita Coal-Fired Power Plant and other exploitative projects led by SMC.
The group called on local governments to prioritize renewable energy investments and community-driven development, emphasizing the importance of upholding human dignity and environmental sustainability.
“Mindanao’s future must not be sacrificed for corporate profits,” the alliance stated, urging Mindanawons, civil society groups, faith-based communities, and leaders to unite against harmful coal projects and advocate for climate justice.
