Several groups in the power industry and civil society organizations have forged an alliance supporting efforts of local government units (LGU) against coal development projects in their respective areas.

The Power for People Coalition (P4P), in cooperation with the Center for Energy, Ecology and Development (CEED), Philippine Movement for Climate Justice (PMCJ), Sanlakas, Greenpeace and the World Wildlife Fund Philippines favor the LGU decision to push the implementation of renewable energy (RE).

These groups organized the “Convergence for 100 percent Renewable Energy in the Philippines” in which LGU, RE developers and representatives of host communities and civil society groups discussed various challenges to realizing the shift to renewable energy in the Philippines.

The event culminated in the awarding of the “Gawad REsponsableng Lokal na Pamahalaan” to the local governments of Ozamiz City, Quezon City, Cebu City and the provincial government of South Cotabato for their active promotion of clean, affordable, renewable energy in their territories.

“Today, we recognize the efforts of the local government units who, despite the challenges posed by the national government policy and pro-coal stance, have taken initiatives to pursue renewable energy systems and challenge the coal industry,” Gerry Arances, CEED executive director, said.

“Despite the availability of renewable technologies, more than a billion of our people are still under energy poverty and most of our communities are suffering from different impacts of coal and high electricity prices. Advocating for clean and affordable renewable energy is caring for our people, caring for our environment and promoting equal access to electricity,” Arances added.

Arances said trends show that most of the global energy financiers are already investing and offering innovative and affordable RE solutions. In fact, a bid of P2.99/kWh has already been made to compete with the existing P3.50/kWh.

“Just this week, Meralco has increased its rate by P0.35/kwh because of an increase in the cost of generation. This increase in our electric bills is basically owed to the rising cost of coal in the global market,” said P4P convenor and Sanlakas secretary-general Aaron Pedrosa.

“A policy of coal dependence is a policy of continuing power hikes,” reiterated Pedrosa.

The rising cost of electricity exacerbates the difficulties faced by the poorest Filipinos from the rising cost of other basic goods, he continued.

“If the national government is serious in alleviating the lives of Filipinos from poverty, it will stop believing in the myth of ‘cheap’ coal and start supporting initiatives for community-based, people-centered renewable energy instead,” Pedrosa added.

Ian Rivera, PMCJ national coordinator, said local and international banks have been also divesting because of the increasing number of cases and complaints from the coal operations.

“The Philippines joins now with the global movement of governments declaring coal-free in their pursuit of development and industrialization and this is the Powering Past Coal Alliance, a movement composed of more than 20 countries led by the UK and Canada,” Rivera said.

“These local government units typify this alliance in the Philippines. They have realized coal has already reached its limits., (that) it is not the energy for today and the future, and that new, responsive development has to be radically embraced for the people and the planet,” Rivera argued.

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