Marginalized groups in Atimonan, Quezon lamented the seeming orchestrated attacks and criticism against a project that is expected to provide jobs and make lives better for the people of the town.
Greg de Gracia, an accredited fisherman and chairman of Samahan ng Maliliit na Mangingisda ng Balubad, Lubi,Talaba at Kilait said the groups who were waging a campaign against A1E’s power plant were not representing the interest of the Atimonanins.
“I attended all public consultations together with my fellow fisherman and fellow Atimonanins,” said de Gracia, adding that they were aware that the consultations were required before the issuance of the environmental compliance certificate.
“We are real Atimonanins. We live here. We work here and we will be the direct beneficiaries of the project. These groups don’t represent us and they don’t come and talk to us. The information they are spreading are false or fake news. We continue to strongly support the project,” said de Gracia.
He said the power plant would help not only the town of Atimonan, but would also uplift the lives of its residents.
“The project is not yet constructed but we are already benefiting from it through the different programs and activities that will not be available to us without Atimonan One Energy,” de Gracia said.
“Together with the other real Atimonanins, we believe that the project will also help our families and the next generation who will benefit from better service, more job opportunities, and improved health and educational facilities that we will get from this project,” he said.