Palace urges public to participate in Earth Hour

Malacañang on Saturday urged Filipinos all over the world to participate in this year’s observance of “Earth Hour,” which will be held from 8:30 and 9:30 tonight.

Communications undersecretary Manolo Quezon said Filipinos’ participation in the annual switch-off event organized by the World Wide Fund for Nature would symbolize the country’s commitment to reduce carbon emission and pursue solutions to combat climate change.

READ: Pedal power to ‘light up PH’ at Earth Hour event

“Sana po mag-cooperate tayong lahat at makisali dito (I hope all of us cooperate and join this activity). This is to symbolize our commitment to lower our carbon footprint and to lower our use of energies so that we should have a sustainable future. The Philippines will be enjoining 117 nations around the globe to mark Earth Hour,” Quezon said over state-run DZRB.

Asked about the call of former US vice president Al Gore to the Philippine government to stop its dependence on coal-fired power plants, Quezon said renewable sources of energy are being maximized, but admitted that coal and other sources like diesel are still being used due to the high cost of energy.

READ: Al Gore told: Climate-change battered PH still resorting to coal

“We appreciate ‘yung punto de vista ni former Vice President Gore and in fact you can see na tuloy-tuloy ang pagpapalawak ng renewable sources of energy, as demonstrated ‘yung binanggit ko kaninang inauguration nung solar-powered plant sa Calatagan,” Quezon said.

(We appreciate former Vice President Gore’s point of view, and in fact, you see that we are expanding renewable sources of energy as demonstrated by the inauguration of a solar-powered plant in Calatagan.)

“And in fact kung ikukumpara ang ating tinatawag na energy mix sa ibang mga bansa, we have a very healthy energy mix; about 70 percent of our energy is produced by sustainable or low-polluting sources including geothermal, hydropower, and palaki nang palaki ‘yung sektor ng renewable such as wind and solar. Be that as it may, mayroon pa ring porsyento, naiwan na porsyento for let’s say for coal and for other sources such as diesel,” he added.

(And in fact, you compare our energy mix to other countries, we have a very healthy energy mix; about 70 percent of our energy is produced by sustainable or low-polluting sources including geothermal, hydropower, and the sector of renewable energy is expanding with the emergence of wind and solar sources. Be that as it may, there is still a remaining percentage of reliance to coal and other sources such as diesel.)

Citing high cost and insufficient energy supply, Quezon said the country can’t fully get away with coal-fired power plants, but assured the public that these are more environment-friendly than old ones.

“Our dilemma is mataas pa rin ang presyo ng enerhiya at may mga lugar kung saan hindi pa sapat ang supply ng kuryente at ang mahalaga dito ang konsepto ng baseload. In other words, you cannot have let’s say solar power na useful siya habang may araw kaya lang pag gabi hindi mo na magagamit unless you set up large battery farm which we do not have,” he said.

(Our dilemma is the cost of energy here is still high, and there are still places that do not have sufficient supply of electricity, and it’s important to consider the concept of baseload. In other words, you cannot have solar power which can only be used in the day unless you set up a large battery farm which we do not have.)

“So, we would have to invest — as we are investing, the private sector is putting up mga coal-fired plants but let’s point out na ‘yung mga planta na ito mas malinis kumpara let’s say about 10 years ago kasi nagkakaroon ng technology. So habang balanse ang ano natin, everyone of course will be keeping in mind, ‘yung pananaw na dapat talaga papalawakin natin ang malinis na enerhiya but kailangan din nating ibalanse ito sa development ng Pilipinas,” Quezon added.

(So, we would have to invest — as we are investing, the private sector is putting up mga coal-fired plants but let’s point out that these plants are cleaner than the ones from 10 years ago because of technology. So while we still have a balance energy mix, everyone should keep in mind the belief that we still have to enhance clean source of energy while balancing it with the development in the Philippines.) IDL