Fear grows among Semirara folk over coal industry’s future

ILOILO CITY — The threat of mass layoffs is stirring fears that go well beyond the workplace. Behind every possible job loss is a household facing bills it may no longer be able to pay, a small store at risk of losing its customers, and a student wondering whether the dream of finishing school will remain within reach.

Now, the government’s sudden cancellation of the 2026 Coal Bid Round has deepened those anxieties across Semirara Island in Caluya, Antique.

But amid this uncertainty over the future of coal mining, people are being urged to turn a period of economic transition into an opportunity to build a more sustainable future for workers, families, students and local businesses.

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READ: Semirara cries foul over ‘unfair’ coal bidding rules

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The call comes as the Department of Energy (DOE) reassesses its 2026 Coal Bid Round and residents seek clarity over the future of Semirara Mining and Power Corp. (SMPC), whose existing Coal Operating Contract No. 5 is set to expire on July 14, 2027.

While concerns over possible additional layoffs have begun affecting local businesses and families, Bishop of Marvyn Maceda of San Jose de Antique said careful planning could help the island protect its people, diversify its economy, and restore its environment while preparing for a gradual shift toward renewable energy.

“The time to begin a just transition for Semirara is now,” Maceda said in a circular issued on Oct. 4.

The bishop noted that the island’s future should be shaped not only by decisions on coal contracts and energy supply but also by the welfare of the people who have built their lives around the industry.

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READ: Semirara coal mining transition plan sought

Protecting livelihoods

For Semirara’s small business owners, the immediate priority is maintaining household incomes and consumer confidence as the future of mining operations remains uncertain.

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Janice Lim, an island entrepreneur who operates a restaurant and rental properties, said businesses have experienced slower sales, fewer customers and delayed payments amid concerns over job security.

“When people become uncertain about their jobs or income, they spend less,” Lim said in a recent interview.

She noted that the first round of retrenchments, which affected more than 400 workers, had already impacted businesses that depend on the spending of mining employees and contractors.

The bishop’s proposal for economic diversification offers one possible direction: developing renewable energy and other sustainable industries in Semirara and neighboring Caluya, creating new employment opportunities, and helping local enterprises become less dependent on a single industry.

Accessible education

Maceda stressed that workers and their families should not have to shoulder the burden of changes in mining operations on their own.

Education is another priority for families looking toward the island’s future.

At Divine Word School of Semirara Island Inc., SMPC provides an annual allocation of approximately P90 million to support free tuition and education for employees’ children.

John Paul Josef, the school’s Supreme Student Government president, said more than 1,500 students at the institution are affected by uncertainty surrounding the coal industry, along with students at other island schools whose parents work for SMPC.

Students are concerned about their parents’ employment, their families’ future on the island, and the continuation of educational assistance.

“SMPC is not just about mining—it is about the lives and livelihoods of the people on this island,” Josef said.

The concerns of workers, parents and students were brought into public view during a peaceful gathering on Semirara Island on Sept. 25.

Josef joined the rally carrying a placard that read, “Ang tatay ko’y minero, edukasyon ang kanyang regalo (My father is a miner; education is his gift).”

The gathering followed the DOE’s Sept. 19 announcement terminating its 2026 Coal Bid Round to reassess the parameters for awarding coal operating contracts.

The bid round covered 18 coal blocks in three areas, including 10 blocks spanning approximately 10,000 hectares on Semirara Island.

SMPC’s existing contract remains valid until July 14, 2027, giving government and industry time to clarify the island’s direction and develop measures to protect workers and communities.

But the SMPC said the coal bidding rules favor the potential winning bidder and violate existing laws.

The Consunji-led company expressed frustration over the auction conditions, particularly a provision requiring it to surrender its assets if it participates in the bidding.

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SMPC described the requirement as “unfair,” saying it “basically bars us from bidding.” Maceda clarified that the Church was not advocating an immediate shutdown of coal mining without considering the country’s energy needs and the livelihoods of workers and their families. INQ