Roxas open to 'clean' coal plants, more mining if he becomes president

Former Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas said he is open to more coal plants and more mining firms operating in the country if elected president, as long as these are done in a responsible manner.

During the third and final leg of the Commission on Elections-sponsored Pilipinas Debates 2016 held in Dagupan City in Pangasinan on Sunday, Roxas said that coal-fired power plants can be a viable solution in addressing the country's limited energy supply.

“Yung maduming coal at maduming carbon masama. Pero may mga coal plants sa Finland, sa Germany sa Sweden na sa gitna ng lungsod pinapaandar dahil ito'y tinatawag na clean coal,” Roxas said.

Asked if he would continue the construction of about 23 more coal-fired power plants if elected as president, Roxas did not give a categorical answer but said: “Kasabay nun ay isusulong nating yung natural gas para manatiling 50-50 yung ating energy balance between clean which is coal and oil at saka sa natural gas, which is renewable at geothermal”.

A total of 23 coal-fired plants are set to open by 2020 after they were approved by President Benigno Aquino III.

Last January, Aquino inaugurated a 300 megaWatt coal power plant in Davao. The inauguration took place just a month after 195 countries including the Philippines signed the United Nations' 21st Conference of Parties (COP21) wherein the signatories promised to reduce their greenhouse gas emission by 70 percent by 2030.

Meanwhile, Roxas also said he is also open to allowing more mining companies to operate in the country as long as they comply with the environmental laws.

“May batas e. We are all aspiring to become president of the Philippines. Number one is to execute the laws of the land. Pero itong mga batas na ito ay dapat tumalima sa ating mga patakaran which is local acceptance at environmental compliance,” Roxas said. —JST, GMA News