Pagbilao, Quezon, , Philippines — Greenpeace’s ship the Rainbow Warrior today ended a three-day blockade of the Pagbilao coal-fired power plant, 150 kilometres southwest of Manila, as leading politicians joined the organisation’s call for the Philippines to «Quit Coal».
The blockade began on the eve of the G8 Environment Ministers Meeting in Japan, where ministers from the world’s richest industrialised countries are discussing solutions to climate change, 24-26 May. The Rainbow Warrior action highlights the urgent need for rejecting coal to top the agenda.
Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri, Secretary General of the Philippine government’s ruling coalition partner Lakas CMD, today assured Greenpeace he would seek a moratorium on the expansion of coal power in the Philippines: «I will file a resolution in the Senate seeking a halt in the construction of new coal fired power plants in the country. In tandem will be a strong Renewable Energy Bill that shall allow us to shift towards a low carbon economy, and away from dependence on fossil fuels, particularly coal. Coal carries huge environmental, health and social costs.»
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