A pro-environment group urged the country’s energy department and SunAisa Energy Inc. to halt the planned floating solar project on Laguna de Bay.
The Philippine Movement for Climate Justice (PMCJ) warned that the project would devastate livelihoods and the lake’s ecosystem.
The DOE recently endorsed SunAsia’s proposal to install a floating solar array covering more than 13 square kilometers of the country’s largest freshwater lake.
PMCJ said the project threatens food security and fails to reflect a “just transition” to renewable energy.
“While the move to push for the implementation of RE projects aligns with our global calls, its impacts should be considered, especially when it collides with food security and the environment,” said Edwin Tesaluna, PMCJ’s Senior Renewable Energy Officer.
SunAsia and Chinese firm Sungrow signed a supply deal on July 22, 2025, for the project’s array floaters, which will be produced by local plastic manufacturer Tayson Industrial Corp.
Tesaluna warned the project would cost inland fisherfolk an estimated 535,000 kilos of fish catch annually, translating to more than ₱82 million in lost income.
Floating solar panels would worsen the condition of Laguna de Bay by disrupting sunlight penetration, altering water temperature and dissolved oxygen levels, and threatening aquatic ecosystems.
The project also poses risks to the livelihoods of local fisherfolk by reducing fishing grounds and restricting boat access, making the lake an unsuitable site for such developments, PMCJ warned.
Energy Secretary Sharon Garin, who attended the supply signing, reportedly called the initiative a “milestone in the country’s decarbonisation journey.”
But PMCJ said Garin’s support for the project contradicts her recent approval of a 1,200 MW coal plant by Atimonan One Energy Inc. and Meralco PowerGen.
“It is clear that the DOE has no intention of phasing out coal and any fossil fuels,” PMCJ National Coordinator Ian Rivera said.
PMCJ argued that the Philippines cannot truly decarbonize if the government pushes renewable energy projects while continuing to approve and endorse fossil fuel developments.
The group also criticized the lack of consultation with Laguna fisherfolk and warned that placing floating solar panels on lakes, which play a crucial role in the hydrologic cycle, disregards scientific impacts.
PMCJ said this reflects how the government prioritizes business interests over the welfare of people, the climate, and the planet.
“We demand that the DOE and the BBM government implement the renewable energy regulations scientifically and ecologically. There should be no shortcuts or compromises on the interests of the planet and people,” Rivera said.
