IBA, Zambales, Philippines — Governor Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. announced Monday his full support to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) which passed a resolution opposing the construction of a a coal-fired power plant inside the Subic Bay Freeport Zone Port.

Ebdane signed a resolution approved by the Zambales Provincial Council to oppose the establishment of the Subic power plant to be located in Barangay Cawag, Subic, in order to protect the environment in the tourism hub.

Vice Gov. Ramon Lacbain II, who presides over the SP, said they have heard and considered the arguments in opposing the establishment of the power plant and unanimously approved the opposition to the planned coal-fired power plant.

Earlier, the city government of Olongapo and the Olongapo-Zambales Civil Society Organization (OZCSN) filed a formal petition against the project “for health and environmental reasons.”

The petitioners claimed the municipal governments and their constituents were not properly consulted and informed prior to the issuance of Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to the proponents of the project.