If elected, Ka Leody to close coal plants in 2 years and shift to renewable energy

This is a combination photo of presidential candidate Leody De Guzman (left) and vice-presidential candidate Walden Bello. INQUIRER FILE PHOTOS

MANILA, Philippines — If elected as president, labor leader Leody de Guzman will close coal plants within two years to shift to renewable energy.

“Ang aming programa ni Walden [Bello] ay pabilisin ‘yung paglipat natin sa renewable energy. Within two years, dapat ‘yung coal plant ay dapat na nating ipasara dahil ‘yan ang pinakamaruming source ng energy sa mundo at marami nang bansa ay tumitigil diyan at kaya dapat nating ipatigil na rin,” he said in a presidential candidate forum organized by the University of Santo Tomas.

(Our program, together with Walden, is to expedite the shift to renewable energy. Within two years, coal plants should be closed because that is the dirtiest source of energy on Earth and many countries are already stopping from using it.)

“‘Di lang ‘yung coal kundi ‘yung buong fossil fuel na nag-e-emit ng napakaraming carbon dioxide at nagce-create ng greenhouse gas na nagpapainit sa mundo. Dahil ‘yung pag-init ng mundo, ‘yan ang nagce-create ng climate change,” he added.

(Not only coal, but all fossil fuels that emit so much carbon dioxide, creating greenhouse gas that causes global warming. Global warming creates climate change.)

De Guzman noted that their policy seeks the immediate shift to renewable energy, mainly solar.

The presidential hopeful said that his government will team up with private companies to make the shift possible.

“Mabilis tayo makakalipat una, dahil’ yung bansa natin talagang napaka-strategic para sa mga renewable energy. Kaya ang gagawin, tutulak ng gobyerno. Gobyerno magtutulak, maglalaan ng pondo para tulungan ‘yung ating mga private partners na mag-shift doon sa isang malinis na enerhiya,” he said.

(We can swiftly transfer because our country is strategic for renewable energy. What we’re going to do, the government will push and allocate funds to team up with private partners.)

“Ang maganda pa niyan ay matipid at magce-create ng maraming trabaho dahil labor intensive. Nga lang, malaking kapital ang kailangan at ang may kakayanan niyan ‘yung ating gobyerno with partnership du’n sa mga negosyante na nag-iisip din ng kaligtasan hindi lang ng ating bansa kundi ng planeta,” explained de Guzman.

(The good thing is it is economical and it will generate more jobs because it is labor intensive. However, it needs a big capital and the government can do it in partnership with businessmen who think of the country and the planet’s safety.)

De Guzman is running under the Partido Lakas ng Masa with activist Walden Bello as his vice president.

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JPV