Shift to renewable energy for all
MEMBERS of the Philippine Movement for Climate Justice (PMCJ) call on the national government, specifically the Department of Energy (DOE), to stop allowing new coal mines and coal plants in the country and pursue clean energy sources.
PMCJ is a coalition of 103 national and local organizations, and communities that aims to lead the joint struggles, campaigns and actions in putting forward the climate justice framework as a fundamental element of solving the climate crisis.
Philippine Movement for Climate Justice (PMCJ) Convenor Lidy Nacpil said: “There is an on going aggressive expansion of coal, oil and gas projects nationwide. The Philippine government claims this is directed towards meeting people and communities’ energy needs. However, it has been our experience that when there is an expansion of energy generation – there has not been any corresponding increase in energy access for marginalized sectors and communities There are 2.5-million Filipino households who still do not have access to electricity. Under the strategic energy plan of the government, there will still 1.7 million households left without access by 2017.
Meanwhile the expansion of fossil fuel projects will deepen our dependence on dirty and harmful energy – which already currently comprise 84% of Philippine energy supply. Fossil fuel energy have immediate and long-term impacts on peoples’ health and livelihoods, on sources of food, on their homes and environment, on the entire planet with the exacerbation of climate change.”
Today, the advocates will conclude a three-day National Conference on Peoples Energy where the overall energy situation and the government’s energy program were discussed, and come up with an Alternative People’s Energy Platform.
Community leaders from Semirara, Palawan, Subic, Cebu and Mindanao are actively opposing the development of new energy plants in their areas. [1]
Philippine energy sources as of 2013 and beyond—a dirtier and harmful future?
Coal, oil and gas cause extreme pollution. In getting them, different hazardous chemicals, volatile organic compounds, Nitrous Oxide, Carbon Dioxide, Sulfur Oxide, are released to the environment. This directly affects communities and other species. These chemicals were found to cause lung problems and other diseases.
The use of dirty and harmful energy also aggravates our climate situation and
further limits the adaptive capacity of communities to impacts of climate disaster.
Renewable Energy is the better option and the need to provide energy for ALL
PMCJ asserts that it is imperative for the government shifts its Philippine Energy Plan to renewable and clean, and universally accessible energy system for people and communities.
In Mindanao for instance, a lot of communities experience power outages. The government claims this is due to a power crisis and that the solution is to open four new coal plants. However, two of the 4 coal plants (in Saranggani and General Santos) in the pipeline have been found to be intended to supply the power needs of the Tampakan Mining Project and not to supply the electricity needs of more than 600 barangays in Mindanao. Meanwhile, an alternative, more strategic and sustainable solution is the rehabilitation of Agus-Pulangi dams in Lanao del Sur and Bukidnon that generates a total of 955-MW. [2]
The government should take into consideration available alternatives and that top priority should be to provide for energy needs of Filipino households and not for major industries.
Nacpil concluded: “The Philippines should not be locked in to fossil-based energy sources. The Philippine government has an obligation to its citizens to tap and develop renewable and clean energies, ensure universal energy access for all people and communities—and transition to low carbon, equitable development as fast as possible.