By: Jeremiah Longaquit

The Philippine government has always been inconsistent in its supposed campaign for environmental conservation and protection towards sustained national development.

In the year 2008 two new republic acts were approved by the government to promote protect our environment, environmental awareness and promote the use of renewable energy resources. They are Republic Act 9512 known as National Environmental Awareness and Education Act of 2008 and Republic Act No 9513 known as Renewable Energy Act of 2008.

In reality the Philippine national government’s policies pursues economic development at the cost of environmental destruction, particularly in the field of power generation. The government has been pushing for the construction of coal fired power plants.

It is well known in all parts of power generating world that CFPPs or Fossil Fuel Power Plants are among the dirtiest and most polluting energy sources. Some countries in the world, like Denmark, are banning the construction of these kinds of power plants.

But here in our place it’s the government that spearheads the promotion of CFPPs.

In Iloilo, the construction of a new CFPP faces strong opposition by the Ilonggos. Likewise in Kamanga, Maasim where the Conal Holdings Corporation plans to put up a 200Megawattsgigantic plants.

What then do the mentioned laws meant by “environmental protection and promotion of renewable energy source?” It may be just another law meant for the archives and not for implementation.

Laws are made to advance the welfare of the people above any other; by not promoting these two laws, does that mean the government does not put the welfare of the people in the front line? Who does then the government protects?

For we who care for the environment and the lives of the future generations must see to it that our children will not suffer the cost of our joy rides today. We must not lose hope, even with the lapses of government policies in protecting the environment; for what we do is for the good of all God’s creations. And there is no illegal or wrong in protecting what is dearly given to us.