ISLA VERDE, BATANGAS, PHILIPPINES – Following the recent oil spill of the MT Princess Empress in the waters near the Verde Island Passage earlier this month, the Philippine Movement for Climate Justice (PMCJ) and the Roman Catholic Church Archdiocese of Lipa with St. Paul the Apostle Parish Verde entered a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to establish a community-based renewable energy system in Isla Verde, Batangas City, March 17, 2023.

The MOA was signed by Most Rev. Gilbert Garcera, Archbishop, Archdiocese of Lipa, alongside Rev. Fr. Renante Ilagan, Parish Priest of St. Paul the Apostle Parish Church and Ian Rivera Jr., National Coordinator of PMCJ. All parties agreed to work together to ensure and secure the welfare of the people of Isla Verde from the impacts of the climate crisis and dirty energy through the establishment of sustainable community-based renewable energy systems like solar power projects.

The parties have committed to create a multi-sectoral organization with the proposed name “Save VIP! Climate Justice Now” that will spearhead the campaign against LNG/fossil gas power plants and other projects that will harm and endanger the VIP and the natural attractions of the island, exacerbate the existing climate crisis, imperil the health of the people, and compromise the livelihood of the community.

According to the agreement, among the steps towards transitioning to community-based renewables is to provide information on climate change, climate emergency, and climate justice to raise climate awareness in the six barangays of Isla Verde. It further stipulates that the local government of Isla Verde will be encouraged to promote a democratic transformation of the energy industry into cleaner, cheaper, affordable, environmental-friendly, and sustainable renewable energy for the general interest of the people.

Five of six currently operating liquefied natural gas (LNG) powerplants in the country are currently in the province of Batangas, with several new expansion projects in the pipeline. According to communities and environmental advocates, energy developers’ insistence to transform the province of Batangas into a center for LNG will only ensure that disasters such as the MT Princess Empress oil spill will be more frequent in the future.

“With the oil spill creating havoc in the VIP, future similar tragedy will happen if VIP continues as an oil and fossil highway of the country. With the concentration of oil and fossil gas plants in Batangas City, this killer highway will remain. But our drive to 100% RE in most communities will prevent similar tragedies from happening”, Ian Rivera, PMCJ National Coordinator said.

With the signing of the memorandum, both parties hope to contribute to the efforts of addressing the impacts of climate change and dirty energy and to promote a just transition to renewable energy, particularly solar power, which is abundant on the island.

For Inquiries:
Larry Pascua | +639175098371
Senior Energy Officer
Philippine Movement for Climate Justice (PMCJ)