Ahead of the Global Week of Action calling for the end of fossil fuels from September 13-20, 2024, Filipino environmental activists slammed the Department of Energy and the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. over the alleged continued support for coal despite the moratorium.
“We denounce the Department of Energy for its continued promotion of coal as a top source of electricity. Coal is very harmful to people, the environment, and the climate. We need a permanent coal ban, not a mere moratorium, to stop coal expansion and a clear plan to rapidly phase out all existing coal plants in the Philippines by 2035. The DOE’s continuing reliance on imported fuels narrows down our options not just dirty but expensive fossil fuels,“ said Ian Rivera, National Coordinator of the Philippine Movement for Climate Justice (PMCJ), in a statement during a press conference in Quezon City on September 11, 2024.
The country has 29 existing coal plants with 62 boiler plants, according to the green groups.
Photos by Jimmy A. Domingo
