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In the Philippines, religious and environmental groups have called on public bodies and private companies, including those managing funds from Catholic institutions and religious congregations, to comply with the presidential directive to speed up the development of sources of information. renewable energy. President Rodrigo Duterte issued the directive to reduce the country's reliance on coal in its annual speech to Congress on 22 July.
The Power 4 People Coalition said the directive reflects the growing strength of citizens, consumers and sectors engaged in promoting sustainable development through clean, affordable and renewable energy.
But while hailing the "timely" directive, coalition members urged the Ministry of Energy to follow it, citing inconsistencies, such as the recent granting of a certificate of environmental compliance for a coal-fired power plant on the tourist island of Palawan, south of Manila.
Environmental activists have challenged the government to review the licenses granted to several "nationally significant energy projects" granted to coal-fired power plants in several provinces.
Fr. Edwin Gariguez, head of the Social Action Secretariat of the Bishops' Conference, said that local governments and the private sector should show a sense of urgency in the face of growing problems related to to climate change.
"We have to wake them up," said the priest. "We must be shaken by reality and we can not continue as if nothing had happened," he said.
He reiterated his previous call to Catholic institutions and lay people to join the Bishops in campaigns to phase out coal-fired power plants and put an end to coal mining.
Erwin Puhawan of the Philippine Climate Justice Movement said environmental groups should monitor coal-related development programs.
"We hope Duterte did not say empty words," he said.
April de Torres of the Center for Energy, Ecology and Development, warned that the government's results were uneven, often reversing policies aimed at promoting the development of renewable energies.
She added that investors in the coal sector had benefited from the rapid approval of projects under a program granting privileges to "energy projects of national importance".
While the government introduced the program as a way to boost employment and mitigate the impact on the environment, Mr. de Torres said that more people Non-renewable energy projects are beneficial.
"There are many criteria, but you only have to meet one criterion to be declared an" energy project of national importance "," she said.
The government's issuance of permits for energy projects within 30 days often does not catch communities, she said.
The process usually tends to sharply on the process of social acceptability, which poses the risk of insufficient oversight and an examination of potential environmental problems.
48% of the 148 new energy projects involve fossil fuels and only 7% represent renewable energies, de Torres said.
The government's energy plan also plans to increase the number of coal-fired power plants by 41 out of the current 28, she warned.
This contradicts the president's remarks about the state of the nation, she added.
Kevin Yu of Greenpeace said that solar projects accounted for only 3.86% of all companies, while coal owned 36%.
When asked if he trusted in the president's latest directive on coal, Father Gariguez replied, "We will give him the benefit of the doubt."
"But if he goes back on his word, he will no longer be credible as president," said the priest.
Mark Saludes contributed to this report.
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