In April, a group of Catholic nuns in Mindanao, represented by the Sisters’ Association in Mindanao (SAMIN), marked the Earth Day to urge for robust environmental protection and defense of communities harmed by destructive economic projects. SAMIN voiced concerns over the fact that climate change and ecological destruction are getting worse in Mindanao due allegedly to mining, logging, agribusiness plantations, coal power plants and large infrastructure and energy projects. Furthermore, SAMIN alleged that Aboitiz Power’s Therma South Power Station in Davao City and San Miguel Corporation’s Malita Coal-Fired Power Plant pollute water resources, displace residents and falsely market themselves as “clean coal.” They also alleged companies of “greenwashing” while environmental defenders fighting these development projects faced violence.

In late April, Business and Human Rights Centre invited both Aboitiz Power and San Miguel Corporation to respond to the allegations but they did not.