BOXING sensation Manny Pacquiao is supporting calls for a moratorium on the operation of coal-fired power plants in the country until 2050.
Environmental protection advocate lawyer Gloria Estenzo-Ramos said the boxing champion and Sarangani congressman signed a petition calling for the moratorium.
?The signature campaign is still ongoing; the petition will be brought to Cebu on Dec. 2 and 8 to 12 for signing,? Ramos said. Another signatory to the petition, she added, is actress Lani Mercado, also a member of Congress.
The signature campaign supports a House resolution jointly authored by party-list legislators and is in reaction to the government?s so-called push for coal power plants, she said.
Coal has been identified as a major source of carbon emission and air pollution in the world. It reportedly contributes one-third of global greenhouse gas emissions, which cause climate change and global warming.
Ramos and other environment advocates say the government?s favorable outlook towards coal fired plants is misplaced, adding that the Philippines is among the top six countries that are most vulnerable to the effects of climate change.
Environment advocates have been opposing the operation of coal-fired power plants in Naga and Toledo.
They filed a civil action to prevent the plants from disposing of coal ash. Among those impleaded in the suit are Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia and the companies that run the coal-fired power plants (Toledo Power Corp., Cebu Energy Development Corp. and the Salcon-Kepco joint venture).
Gov. Garcia, in previous media reports, defended the operation of the plants, saying Cebu is already experiencing power outages.
Ramos said, though, that there are renewable energy sources but these are not tapped.
