Occidental Mindoro bans coal use for energy

THE provincial board of Occidental Mindoro has adopted an ordinance that effectively prohibits the use of coal as a source of energy.

The ordinance, entitled “Regulating The Use of Fossil Fuels And Banning The Use of Coal Fired Energy Source Of Power Stations Thereby Replacing Or Using Alternative Green Energy As Part Of Global Efforts To Contribute To The Goals of Climate Change,” or otherwise known as the “Green Energy Ordinance” was approved on Dec. 5 by the city council led by Vice Governor and Presiding Officer Peter Alfaro.

It was authored by Abelardo S. Pangilinan, chairman of the Committee on Education, Arts, Culture, Science and Technology.

Basically, it covers the usage regulation of all fossil fuels and bans the installation of any coal power plant in the province of Occidental Mindoro.

The province has now opted to pursue renewable-energy (RE) projects and promote renewable- energy programs. “It is the prime obligation of the provincial government of Occidental Mindoro together with all department heads; the Occidental Mindoro Electric Cooperative is tasked to pursue the policy toward renewable energy,” it said.

The province also approved the creation of a council in charge of crafting measures encouraging the use of RE in the province.

The province is determined to ensure future energy security by improving thermal efficiency in power generation, increasing contributions from RE, and shifting toward more energy-efficient vehicles.

The council, to be led by the governor, will include representatives from the business and industrial sectors, as well as those from various government agencies.

Since the provinces of Mindoro have the largest biodiversity in the country and in the world, the provincial government said it is “bound to protect and put the public welfare on top of our priorities without sacrificing and taking away the resources of future generations.”

“We may not be [on a]  par with the developed or advance countries, but with our developmental status, it is to our advantage to take great lessons that the negative impacts of pollution and effluent emissions can do irreversible damage.

“Fossil fuels come with a cost. Coal smoke is linked to everything—from asthma and birth defects, to cancer and premature death. Natural-gas fracking is tied to contaminated groundwater and earthquakes, while oil is the single- largest source of air pollution and smog in the world,” it said.

With the decision to make its province coal-free, Occidental Mindoro strives to preserve its own local natural resources, and nurture a healthy well-being for its citizens. “Understanding the scope of coal-fired effluent impacts is critical for informing our choices around energy production—and for preventing the worst impacts of climate change,” it added.