President Rodrigo Duterte poses for a photograph with his delegation and some overseas Filipinos in Vietnam on September 28.(MNS photo)
MANILA (Mabuhay) – Civil society group Sanlakas on Tuesday urged the Duterte administration to keep its promise of transitioning the Philippines from coal power to cleaner and renewable sources of energy and putting an end “coaligarchy.”
The few families that control the energy sector and they are behind the massive expansion of coal-fired power plants in the country, Sanlakas Secretary-General Aaron Pedrosa said during a press conference in Quezon City.
“Data from the Department of Energy and the Department of Environment and Natural resources showed that as of August 2016, there were 41 existing coal-fired power plants and 69 more are in the pipeline,” Pedrosa said.
“This is in spite of the clamor from many organizations and coal-affected communities to phase out existing coal plants and the cancellation of plans and permits for new coal projects,” he added.
Pedrosa said the President should fulfill his promise of transition to cleaner renewable energy.
“Wag na ipagpatuloy ang mga proyektong ito at ituloy na ang transition sa mas malinis na source ng energy. Dapat tiyakin din na ang energy sector ay hindi lamang nasa kamay ng iilang pamilya,” he said.
Sanlakas alleged that the Aboitizes, Consunjis, Ayalas, Cojuangcos, Sys, Gokongweis, and Alcantaras are among the oligarchs profiting from the propagation of coal industry in the country. (MNS)