Isko, Leody, Abella bat for renewable energy

Presidential candidates on Sunday bared their respective plans to promote the use of renewable energy in the country if they won Eleksyon 2022.

Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko” Moreno said he would adopt the system being implemented in Germany and Netherlands.

“I will adopt on what Germany and Netherlands is doing right now. Agri-multi system, wherein two-pronged. You produce food, you produce energy, and clean, renewable energy,” Moreno said at the 2nd Comelec Presidential Debate.

“And this is adaptable in our geography because we are a tropical country, we have so much sun, and we can harness the power of the sun to produce energy,” he added.

Former presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said he would make agriculture a mega-industry in the country should he win as president.

“Kaya po ang flagship natin ay to make agriculture a mega industry. Kung saan talagang incorporated ang transition from fossil fuel," Abella said.

"For example solar, wind, turbine, and also biomass. Unahin po natin to and we're open to consideration of nuclear pero right now kasi there are risks involved, kailangan mas mahalaga po na ma-idevelop natin ‘yung renewables,” he added.

“Pantayan po itong whole aspect of agriculture as becoming a major industry, as a powerhouse, tapatan po natin siya ng matatag na bayan,” Abella said.

Stressing that the Philippines is a resilient country, Abella also urged the youth to participate in nation-building.

“When we talk about nation-building, hindi lang po ang pinag-uusapan natin yung mga teorya o ideolohiya kundi kailangan po natin silang i-involve. Paano masisigurong napapangalagaan ang nutrisyon ng mga Pilipino lalo na ang mahihirap?” Abella said.

Labor leader Leody De Guzman said there are measures for the use of renewable energy source.

However, he said the problem was with the government which he said had no political to implement them.

He also claimed that the government earned money from the coal-powered plants.

"Ang mas gusto ng ating pamahalaan na nagpalit-palit ay fossil fuel o coal plant na kumikita sila ng limpak limpak diyan, pero hindi konsiderasyon sa paglikha niya 'yung climate change na nangyayari ngayon," De Guzman said.

"Kaya dapat magkaroon ng matibay na desisyon upang bitawan na natin 'yung coal plant lalo na dahil ito ang pinakamaruming source of energy at itong fossil fuel ay alisin na natin then paspasan ang paglipat sa renewable energy," he added.

Presidential candidate Jose Montemayor said the Philippines was one of the main recipients of the adverse effects of climate change.

"Alam niyo po madali nating sabihin na ang obligation ng Pilipinas sa climate change. Pero tandaan natin, tayo ang recipient ng impact ng global warming at saka ng climate change," Montemayor said.

"Yolanda, Ondoy, you have it all. Tandaan natin, hindi lang naman tayo, this is a global problem. Tandaan natin merong tinatawag na climate justice na dapat tayong bayaran sa mga pinaggagawa ng Amerika at China at saka yung climate finance," he added. —NB, GMA News