MANILA, Philippines — The Power for People Coalition (P4P) welcomed on Wednesday the promise of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr to resolve the Occidental Mindoro power crisis. But the pro-environment group said it would hold back its cheers until the renewable energy sources that the president also promised could be implemented soon.
“We have heard Mr. Marcos say that renewable energy was his top priority, but his administration instead went for gas to replace coal. We have gone through green-washing under the Duterte administration, where they claimed they support renewable energy but then promoted coal, and then later, gas,” P4P convener Gerry Arances said in a statement.
Marcos previously made that statement in reference to the frequent blackouts on Mindoro Island, which is divided into two provinces, Occidental Mindoro and Oriental Mindoro.
“It is good to hear the president say he wants green energy, like we do, but we will have to suspend our cheers until he actually does something,” Arances said.
The president, he added, might as well address the power problem threatening the whole country.
“Green energy solves the Mindoro power crisis, but not just that. It can solve the power woes we are going through nationwide as fossil fuel prices remain high and supply is short. Filipinos don’t have to live with high electricity prices, and the president can make it happen, if he really wants to,” Arances said.
Occidental Mindoro, in particular, has been facing a power crisis for a long time now, which local stakeholders attributed to a mix of red tape and the lack of power being supplied to electric cooperatives.
Linking the island to the power grid of mainland Luzon has been proposed. But such a project would take a long time to implement given the work needed to be done to lay cables across the Verde Island Passage — from Batangas to Mindoro Island.
Marcos mentioned renewable energy sources last April 15 during a program in Oriental Mindoro for the oil spill aid distribution.
Campaign promise
A year ago, as a candidate campaigning for the presidency, Marcos already promised Occidental Mindoro residents that he would address their power supply problem.
Marcos’ penchant for bringing up green energy was not lost on P4P. In July 2022, the group reminded the president to discuss renewable energy sources in his first State of the Nation Address.
Arances said that group was hoping to see real government action — not mere lip service — on its long-time advocacy.
“We have long said – Filipinos have the right to affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy. Only renewable energy delivers on all these points, but our politicians only paid lip service to renewable energy,” he said.
“We hope to see officials of the Department of Energy reverse their course on gas on the basis of the president’s statement to know that there is indeed a policy directive from the top to go green,” he added.