National Day of Action Against Coal and Gas: Palawan Calls for Clean, Affordable Power
Palawan communities stood alongside advocates nationwide today for the National Day of Action Against Coal and Gas, calling for an urgent and just transition away from fossil fuels that keep electricity expensive, unreliable, and risky for coastal and farming livelihoods.
Despite Palawan’s globally important forests and seas, our province still bears the costs of fossil dependence—among the country’s highest power bills, frequent outages on island grids, and escalating climate impacts. Residents, fisherfolk, women, small entrepreneurs, and students continue to bear these burdens in their daily lives.
Why not coal and gas?
They keep bills high and volatile. Spot prices on the main grid fell to a five-year low in the first half of 2025 (average ₱4.14/kWh) as supply improved and renewables increased—yet island consumers like Palawan still face steep retail rates because local supply is tied to diesel/bunker/gas contracts whose fuel costs are passed through to households.
They lock in stranded, risky assets. National planning now targets a much larger renewable share (35% by 2030; 50% by 2040). New coal and long-term gas deals risk stranding ratepayers with higher costs compared to modular renewables and storage.
They worsen health and ecosystem impacts. Fossil supply chains drive pollution and climate stress that directly hit coastal and farming livelihoods—costs that are never fully reflected in electric bills. (See ELAC Statement for context and local case notes.)
Palawan’s energy plan already points to cleaner, cheaper options
Palawan is unique in that it has a provincial energy master plan—the Palawan Island Power Development Plan (PIPDP)—developed in 2014 through a multi-sectoral planning process. Analyses citing the PIPDP note that coal is not the least-cost option for Palawan; the plan emphasizes hydro and biomass, with diesel only for peaking.
Academic and policy references similarly point to optimizing Palawan’s mix for renewables, storage, and flexible backup, rather than baseload coal/gas expansion.
What recent news tells us
- Service and contract issues remain unresolved. Local officials and media questioned undelivered contracted capacity and urged revocation of a 20-MW deal, highlighting how poor procurement choices burden consumers.
- High rates trigger national scrutiny. Congress moved to probe Palawan’s power crisis in 2024, citing skyrocketing prices and reliability concerns—issues still surfacing in 2025.
- Off-grid subsidies are under pressure. Hearings for the 2026 Missionary Electrification (UCME) fund reveal rising subsidy needs, underscoring the need for islands to shift to cheaper, cleaner systems rather than relying on imported fuels.
- Market signals favor renewables—not coal. National spot prices eased in 2025 with better supply and more RE; global reporting shows coal’s share slipping even as LNG rises—another reason to avoid long lock-ins and instead ramp RE + storage.
Bottom line: Palawan already has the plan and the resources to lead a just, renewable transition. What’s needed now is execution: no new coal or long-term gas lock-ins; competitive clean procurement; and consumer-first reforms that lower bills while protecting our forests, seas, and communities.
ELAC’s position
The Environmental Legal Assistance Center (ELAC) reiterates that environmental justice requires clean, reliable, and affordable energy. We urge the full implementation of least-cost solutions, including renewables and battery storage, energy efficiency, and resilient community microgrids, as well as a managed phase-down of fossil fuel contracts that lock Palawan into volatile prices.
Read the full details in ELAC’s Statement for the National Day of Action Against Coal and Gas.
What we’re asking for
- Full implementation of the Palawan Island Power Development Plan (PIPDP).
- No new coal or gas plants, pipelines, or long-term fossil deals in Palawan.
- Transparent, least-cost procurement that prioritizes solar + storage and flexible backup.
- Missionary electrification reform so subsidies deliver reliability and real bill relief—not fossil throughput.
- Community protection: uphold environmental laws and FPIC; stop projects that harm ancestral domains, watersheds, fisheries, and public health.
- Accountability: independent audits of contracts, outages, and over-recoveries; return undue costs to consumers.
Why it matters to Palawan
High power rates curb local enterprises, shrink household budgets, and undermine essential services such as cold-chain logistics for fisheries, school operations, and rural health. A rapid scale-up of clean, distributed energy will lower costs, strengthen resilience, and protect the ecosystems that sustain our communities.
How you can help
- Share ELAC’s Statement and talk to your barangay and municipal councils about clean, least-cost energy choices.
- Support rooftop solar and efficiency in schools, clinics, and fishers’ associations.
- Report power service issues and engage in public hearings on power supply agreements.
Palawan has led the way in protecting forests and seas; together, we can lead the shift to a fair and renewable energy future.
Kuryente na malinis, maaasahan, at abot-kaya—ngayon!
Sources:
ELAC Statement for the National Day of Action Against Coal & Gas
Provincial Government of Palawan – Palawan Island Power Development Plan (PIPDP, 2014)
Department of Energy (DOE) – Power Development Plan 2023–2050 / Philippine Energy Plan
IEMOP – H1 2025 Market/Spot Price Updates
PALECO – Official Rate Advisories and Notices (2025)
Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) – UCME/Missionary Electrification hearing notices
National Power Corporation (NPC-SPUG) – Missionary Electrification Plan 2025–2029
DOE – Missionary Electrification Development Plan 2021–2025
NGCP – Customer Bulletins on UCME collections (2025)
Palawan News – coverage on SIPCOR/Palawan power deal issues
Palawan Daily News – reports on high rates/outages and local council actions
Philippine News Agency – Congress probe on Palawan power crisis (2024)
Reuters – analysis on renewables outlook and implications for PH power prices
The Philippine Star – articles on WESM prices hitting multi-year lows (2025)
Manila Bulletin – coverage on RE supply increases and spot price declines (2025)
