LP presidential bet Mar Roxas vows clean energy, natural gas development incentives

Administration-backed 2016 presidential candidate and former interior chief Mar Roxas II has assured prioritizing, if elected as the Philippines’ next head of State, support for further development of clean energy sources and natural gas nationwide.

“If I become president, I’ll give incentives for those,” he said.

He believes the move will help meet Philippine energy needs in an environment-friendly way while boosting the country’s campaign against climate change.

Experts already identified solar, wind, hydro and geothermal power as among the Philippines’ clean energy options from the sun, wind, water and Earth’s heat, respectively.

Such renewable energy sources abound nationwide while the Department of Energy located major natural gas deposits in the country’s Palawan offshore area, Cagayan Valley and Cebu province.

Roxas cited natural gas as a particularly attractive option, estimating its cost per kilowatt-hour at about Php3.00 to Php4.00 only, compared to clean energy’s Php8.00 to Php8.50.

“We don’t want electricity to be too expensive,” he said.

Experts said natural gas is fossil fuel which emits less carbon dioxide (CO2) when burned.

They said CO2 is among greenhouse gases (GHGs) emitted into the atmosphere where these accumulate, trapping heat there so global warming results and causes climate to change.

Climate change’s impacts on archipelagic Philippines are increasing onslaught of extreme weather events like super typhoons as well as occurrence of sea level and temperature rise, they warned.

Environment advocates continue rallying against coal-fired power plants, warning coal-burning there to produce electricity generates air pollutants and more GHGs than natural gas.

Roxas said increasingly tapping clean energy and natural gas will address dominance of coal and oil in the country.

He said coal and oil collectively account for some 50 percent of the country’s energy mix at present.

The country can have more clean energy, however, he clarified.

At the second presidential debate the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and its partners spearheaded in Cebu City over the weekend, Roxas reiterated urgency for the Philippines to already shift towards GHG emission-lowering clean energy sources and natural gas.

“We’re among countries most hit by effects of global warming so it’s important to start transitioning to clean energy,” he noted.

He said the country experiences 20 to 25 tropical cyclones annually, causing significant difficulty and damage in affected communities.

At the debate, Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan standard-bearer Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte cited need for climate action even if the Philippines isn’t a major GHG emitter.

“Climate change is already here so we should do remedial measures,” he said.

He noted major GHG-emitting countries can help supply thePhilippines with solar power and hydropower to further promote development nationwide.

“We’re a growing country and need to industrialize – we need energy,” he said.

Presidential aspirant Grace Poe agrees the country has clean energy sources that must be tapped further.

She noted wind energy alone can potentially provide some 70,000 megawatts (MW) of power.

At least about 30,000 MW of hydropower can be generated in Mindanao, she also said.

“What’s important is we have clean but affordable energy,” she said at the debate.

The country’s next leaders must act fast on further developing clean energy nationwide, she also said.

United Nationalist Alliance presidential candidate Vice President Jejomar Binay likewise attended the debate but didn’t discuss his plans for climate change.

He cited need for future leaders to not only make promises while campaigning but to act decisively and fast on issues hounding the country, however.

“This is a season of promises — what’s good will be said,” he cautioned voters.

People’s Reform Party standard-bearer Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago wasn’t able to attend the debate, citing her scheduled anti-cancer medication.

She first joined the presidential race in 1992 but lost to President Fidel V. Ramos.

Government and its partners agreed holding a series of debates in the run-up to the 2016 presidential elections this May to help voters make informed choices about whom to elect as the country’s next Chief Executive.

Such partners plan holding the last presidential debate in Pangasinan province this April after kicking off the series in Cagayan de Oro City last month.

Category: Daily Witness, National