On the TVI Toledo plant's cornerstone-laying,PMCJ: Aboitiz Power’s coal expansion in Cebu undermines climate goals, public health

Media Communications
Sep 14
5 min read

Toledo, Philippines — The Philippine Movement for Climate Justice (PMCJ) strongly opposes Abotiz Power’s proposed 150-megawatt (MW) coal power plant expansion in Toledo City, Cebu. This statement follows the project’s cornerstone-laying ceremony held on Sept. 12, 2025, at the site of Therma Visayas Inc. (TVI), a subsidiary of Aboitiz Power.

While company executives claim the expansion will strengthen the Visayas’ power reserves, PMCJ Visayas Policy Advisor Lito Vasquez points out that past outages in the region have been driven by unplanned shutdowns and derated operations of large baseload coal plants—including those embedded in Cebu—which have repeatedly destabilized the grid.

“Early retirement of coal plants is not only feasible, it is essential for economic and climate resilience,” said Estela Patalinghug, PMCJ Visayas Coordinator. “Diversifying the Visayas’ energy mix by integrating more renewables and battery storage is critical to meeting peak demand and ensuring reliable reserves. Yet Aboitiz Power seeks to extend coal generation for another 30 to 50 years, directly contradicting the Paris Agreement’s mandate for rapid coal phaseout.”

PMCJ also raises serious concerns about the public health impact of adding more coal capacity in Toledo. Although the ceremony is cited as the start of construction, PMCJ points out that the project cannot proceed immediately. The TVI expansion qualifies as an Environmentally Critical Project (ECP) and is located within the Tañon Strait Protected Seascape (TSPS)—a designated health-sensitive area. This means it should undergo the Health Impact Assessment (HIA) process mandated by DOH-DILG Joint Administrative Order No. 2021-0001, pursuant to Section 33 of the Universal Health Care Act (RA 11223).

The HIA process was triggered after PMCJ formally alerted the Health Promotion Bureau (HPB) of the DOH Central Office regarding the impending construction. In response, the HPB notified TVI and the Toledo City Government in late September last year, effectively delaying the project pending HIA compliance.

While TVI submitted its application to the HPB-DOH in January, construction can only proceed after completing the process and securing a Health Impact Clearance Certificate (HICC). The Toledo City Government shall issue no permits until the HICC is granted. With the DOH requiring a comprehensive HIA—a process expected to take over a year—construction will be delayed until mid-2026 or until TVI fulfills the DOH’s requirements to thoroughly evaluate the potential health impacts of the expansion project and identify appropriate mitigation measures.

Based on the preliminary assessment of TVI’s Scoping Report, a resident scientist from the Environmental Law Alliance Worldwide (ELAW) noted that “epidemiological evidence conclusively demonstrates that exposure to particulate matter in ambient air increases mortality rates at levels well below national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS).”

The current NAAQS, set by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) under Administrative Order No. 2000-81, have remained unchanged since their issuance in November 2000, despite the Clean Air Act of 1999 (RA 8749) requiring biennial review and revision. These standards are significantly weaker than the World Health Organization’s Global Air Quality Guidelines.

The position paper submitted by Clean Air Asia to the DENR reported that adopting global practices on emission limits could cut acute respiratory infections near coal plants by up to 83%. Over a typical 30-year plant lifespan, this means economic gains of PHP 408 million under stricter standards, and PHP 981 million with best practices.

PM 2.5 pollutants are of particular concern. A 2020 study by the Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) found that in 2019, about 21,700 deaths in the Philippines were linked to PM2.5 exposure, with total air pollution-related deaths reaching 66,230.

Given the Cebu Provincial Government’s commitment to strengthening health programs for vulnerable sectors, PMCJ calls on Governor Pamela Baricuatro to reject business-as-usual energy policies. While energy is vital for development, it must not come at the cost of public health and environmental integrity. ###

Toledo, Philippines — The Philippine Movement for Climate Justice (PMCJ) strongly opposes Abotiz Power’s proposed 150-megawatt (MW) coal power plant expansion in Toledo City, Cebu. This statement follows the project’s cornerstone-laying ceremony held on Sept. 12, 2025, at the site of Therma Visayas Inc. (TVI), a subsidiary of Aboitiz Power.