The Power for People Coalition
The Power for People Coalition (P4P) on Thursday condemned the statements of Department of Energy (DOE) Undersecretary Rowena Guevara which said up to 20 gigawatts (GW) of coal projects are exempted from the coal moratorium, saying that the department is effectively reversing the moratorium by accepting all manners of exemptions.
The coal moratorium was issued in 2020 but provided exemptions to projects that at the time were committed, or were confirmed expansion projects, or indicative but with signed and notarized acquisition of land or lease agreement and approvals from Local Government Units and Regional Development Councils. Based on independent tracking and analyses by think-tank Center for Energy, Ecology, and Development (CEED), including correspondences with DOE, projects that potentially qualify for exemption from the coal moratorium amount to no more than 1.88 GW as of date.
“The DOE is essentially saying that it will not enforce the moratorium in claiming that so many coal projects are exempt. Even if it claims that only up to 6 GW of these projects would push through, it would effectively appear that the moratorium did nothing to stem the tide of coal plant construction,” said Gerry Arances, Convenor of P4P.
The DOE’s new statements on the moratorium come after a case before the Ombudsman was filed against DOE Secretary Raphael Lotilla for allowing Aboitiz, with which he was previously connected to, to expand its power plant in Toledo City, Cebu, in violation of the moratorium.
“The DOE has a duty to enforce the law, rules, and regulations of the land in the energy sector, yet it is shirking that duty by creatively interpreting the rules and playing fast and loose with the definition of who is exempted. P4P has long been calling for transparency on projects disqualified by the moratorium, and its latest disclosed coal capacity in the pipeline barely even amounts to 4 GW – where is it pulling all these numbers from?,” he added.
The groups expressed disappointment with DOE, which they say has consistently ignored its mandate to provide energy security for the country and ensure the availability of affordable and reliable electricity.
“At every turn, the DOE seems to ignore its mandate in favor of fossil fuels like coal. Coal has to be imported, making it expensive and hard to source in times of crisis. Coal pollutes the earth, water, and air, making people sick and typhoons more destructive. Coal produces expensive electricity but breaks down when needed the most, like in the summer. In short, coal has not served the needs of the nation but DOE officials continue to patronize it,” said Bishop Gerry Alminaza, Vice Chairperson of Caritas Philippines.
“The Philippines committed to reduce the increase in global warming to no more than 1.5°C. To achieve our commitments, we must stop using coal and the moratorium on new projects is a crucial first step. The DOE is now making a mockery of it, serving only the coal lobby at the expense of everyone else in the Philippines,” he added.
Alminaza called on the DOE to uphold its mandate and protect consumers, the people, and the country from the ravages of coal.
“We are the stewards of God’s creation. The rampant use of coal poisons the planet, our only home in this universe. Secretary Lotilla needs to heed his duty as DOE Secretary. Protect the country from dependence on imported energy sources. Protect the country from further pollution and disasters. Protect consumers from unnecessarily expensive and completely unreliable electricity,” he said.
