Despite protests by some groups, residents of Atimonan town, Quezon, rallied recently in front of the Energy Regulatory Commission to support for construction of the planned Atimonan One Energy (A1E) 1,200 MW power plant in their area.
Speaking to reporters who covered the event, Demosthenes Hernandez, president of the Municipal Agriculture and Fisheries Council explained, “We represent Atimonanins who support the project.
We also went here to show Chair Agnes Devanadera that we support the ERC and that we believe the commissioners will see the importance of this project to us.” Hernandez thanked the Department of Energy, and Sec. Alfonso Cusi, for the awarding of the certificate of Energy Project of National Significance to the Atimonan project.
His group likewise thanked President Rodrigo R. Duterte for signing executive order 30 which facilitates the quick processing of crucial “Build, Build, Build” infrastructure projects. “The A1E will really benefit Atimonan in terms of additional jobs that we have long been waiting for,” he averred. Some 300 residents came all the way from Atimonan to participate in the rally.