Traders, investors support coal-free Ilocos Norte

LAOAG CITY—The Ilocos Norte chapter of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry has supported the provincial government’s decision to keep the province clean, green and free from destructive coal power plants.

Ricardo Tolentino, chapter president, said the province was on the right track safeguarding its resources “by discouraging all manner of coal projects from being developed” in Ilocos Norte.

A resolution approved by the provincial board said Ilocos Norte should be a “clean, green and coal-free province.”

“Declaring Ilocos Norte as coal-free manifests our effort to make use of clean and renewable energy like our windmills. This is a good development on our part considering the stronger typhoons and floods that come our way due to extreme weather,” Tolentino said.

He said the local business sector consumes far less electricity than its counterparts in highly urbanized areas like Metro Manila so designating Ilocos Norte as coal-free works to its advantage. —LEILANIE ADRIANO