Quezon Priest Urges DOE to Re-evaluate Atimonan Coal Plant Project

LUCENA CITY — A Catholic priest and environmental advocate has urged the Department of Energy (DOE) to conduct a fresh, thorough review of the proposed 1,200-megawatt coal-fired power plant in Atimonan, Quezon, along the coast of Lamon Bay. Fr. Warren Puno, convenor of Quezon for Environment (QUEEN) and director of the Ministry of Ecology at the diocese, made the appeal. The proposed coal-fired power plant aims to bolster the Philippines' power supply capacity. However, Fr. Puno and QUEEN have expressed concerns about its potential environmental impact, particularly on marine ecosystems and the health of local communities. They argue that the project's effects on air and water pollution, as well as its implications for the local population, should be meticulously evaluated in a new review. As the Philippines grapples with increasing energy demands driven by economic growth, new power plant projects are being developed across the country. Simultaneously, there is a growing call for a transition to renewable energy sources, stemming from concerns over fossil fuel dependency and environmental burden. Fr. Puno's plea highlights the ongoing debate in the Philippines regarding the balance between energy policy and environmental protection.