Direktiba ni Digong sa renewable energy dedma kay Cusi

BINATIKOS ng grupo ng mga kinatawan ng con­sumer na tagapag­tagu­yod ng environment at clean energy, at ‘coal-affected communities’ ang Department of Energy (DOE) na pina­mumu­nuan ni Sec. Alfonso Cusi dahil sa hindi pagsunod sa direktiba ng Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte sa kaniyang State of the Nation Address (SONA), na paunlarin ang Re­newable Energy (RE) at bawasan ang paggamit ng uling o carbon.

Dahil dito, nana­wagan ang mga miyem­bro ng Power for People (P4P) coalition kay DOE Sec. Cusi na huwag nang magpatumpik-tumpik at ipatupad ang imple­men­tasyon ng nasabing direk­tiba ng pangulo at ipa­hinto ang paggamit ng carbon.

“Despite the Pre­si­dent’s positive remarks on RE, Sec. Cusi is showing his bias for coal by continuing to support the construction of new coal-fired power plants in the pipeline. Until now, no concrete action has been put in place by the DOE to pursue this shift,” ayon kay Gerry Arances, con­venor ng P4P at spokes­person ng consumer group Murang Kuryente.

Muling iginiit ng grupo na i-formalize ang direktiba ng Pangulong Duterte ukol sa RE at carbon sa pamamagitan ng Executive Order.

“If the DOE remains disinterested in pursuing this shift, our coal dependence will remain unhindered for decades more at the expense of affected communities and consumers. We need an EO to ensure that the DOE and other mandated agencies are performing accordingly to the Pre­sident’s promise and are accountable if they fail to do so,” giit ni Arances.

Binigyang diin ng Philippine Movement for Climate Justice (PMCJ) National Coordinator Ian Rivera na ang DOE sa ilalim ni Cusi ay nag­silbing ‘instrumental’ para sa pagsusulong ng coal projects sa bansa na idineklara bilang ‘Energy Projects of National Significance.”

“Filipinos have long been wanting for cheap, affordable and climate-compatible energy source. Secretary Cusi’s claim that coal will only serve as a bridge fuel is a deadly recourse. It undermines the President’s decla­ration, jeopardizes the country’s energy security and hastens the climate crisis,” dagdag ng PMCJ.

Nabatid na aprobado sa DOE bilang head agency, ng Energy Invest­ment Coordinating Coun­cil (EICC) ang kontro­bersiyal na proyekto, gaya ng 1,200 MW Atimonan power station at 15 MW DMCI-backed coal powerplant sa popular tourist destination, sa Palawan. “DOE’s in­action on the President’s call to pursue renewable energy contradicts its mandate under the Renewable Energy Act and the law creating the DOE,” pahayag ni Atty. Gerthie Mayo-Anda chair­person ng  Save Palawan Movement.