“If they say this project is for development, development for whom? This is not for us fisherfolk.”
Norberto Tobias of Tanggol San Miguel Bay (SMB) Network stressed this point as he and other fisherfolk from Bicol expressed opposition to the planned 1,000-megawatt San Miguel Bay Offshore Wind Farm.
They joined the Kampuhang Magbubukid (peasant camp) in front of the Department of Agrarian Reform from October 15 to 20.
The proposed wind farm covers 23,307 hectares of coastal waters across municipalities in Camarines Sur and Camarines Norte, including the fishing communities in Calabanga, Cabusao, Tinambac, Siruma, Sipocot, Basud, and Mercedes. This affects at least 6,000 small-scale fisherfolk.
Tobias said in a statement that the planned wind project is only for the profit of foreign companies and its local partner.
Offshore
The project reportedly started its pre-development phase in 2023 but the fisherfolk communities countered that they only learned about it in 2025.
It is just one of the three Offshore Wind Projects of the Copenhagen Infrastructure New Market Fund Corp. (CINMF), the first 100% foreign-owned company to be granted a wind energy service contract (WESC) by the Department of Energy (DOE). It acquired exclusive rights to explore and develop SMB for wind energy in electricity generation.
The wind farm was developed under the partnership of CINMF-affiliated and Denmark-based Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) and local tycoon Ayala group’s ACEN Corp which has a 25% stake.
In 2024, the project was also granted Green Lane status by Philippine Board of Investments (BOI), a Certificate of Energy Project of National Significance (CEPNS), and pre-development Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) which expedited the project’s necessary licenses and permits processes.
The Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) described the Marcos Jr. administrations’ promotion of large-scale renewable energy investments as aggressive, citing its insufficient protection for coastal resources-dependent communities.
The group condemned how the government opened the renewable energy sector in 2022 to 100% foreign ownership, streamlining approvals for strategic investments.
Since August 2024, a total of 91 offshore wind contracts nationwide has been approved by the Department of Energy.
Along the same coastline, six other planned offshore wind projects also raised concerns on combined impacts on marine resources and fisherfolk way of living.
At bay
Calabanga fisherfolk leader Norberto Harukhok said in an interview with Climate Change Network for Community-based Initiatives (CCNCI) that fisherfolk in coastal areas are united to stop the power plant from pushing through as they do not want the future generation to suffer.
“We don’t have a problem if they put it there as long as they follow our request to build it 15 kilometers away. Not by the shore,” Harukhok said.
“This is where we catch fish, earn a living, and get food for our families. If they prohibit us from fishing, where would we go?” Tobias asked, stressing that they may suffer from fishing access restrictions, marine habitat damage, and declining catches.
The CCNCI interview also highlighted that effects on ecosystems may result from the project’s regular operations. Coastal families may also face much lower incomes and worsen hunger.
“Once it is placed there, the fishes would not come closer because of the loud vibrations. Muds would go on the shore. Once they dug it up, the fishes would die from toxicity,” Harukhok said, adding that small-scale fishers with no motorized boats would struggle more as it would be difficult to go far to fish.
Harukhok said that only the government and capitalists would benefit from the project, leaving the fisherfolk without any benefits.
“So-called solutions to the climate crisis must not create another crisis for fishing communities already struggling with poverty, rising costs and impacts of climate change,” KMP Secretary-General Ronnie Manalo said in a statement. (DAA)
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