On Earth Day 2025, civil society groups from across the Philippines staged coordinated mobilizations demanding a shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources, decrying what they called “tokenistic celebrations” of the occasion.
Led by the Power for People Coalition (P4P), Protect Verde Island Passage (Protect VIP), and supported by church organizations, fisherfolk communities, and groups affected by fossil fuel operations, the demonstrators held simultaneous activities in Metro Manila, Batangas City, Oriental Mindoro, Ormoc City, Cebu City, and Misamis Oriental.
“From Luzon to Mindanao, Filipinos are tired of tokenistic celebrations of Earth Day. The day was intended to increase awareness of the damage fossil fuel use has brought to our world. Now, even fossil fuel companies use the occasion for meaningless PR activities,” said Gerry Arances, P4P Convenor.
“This 2025, we want to take Earth Day back to its roots: fighting fossil fuels and promoting renewable energy. Renewable energy means lower electricity prices, more environment-friendly production of electricity, and reduction of greenhouse gasses that are producing the supertyphoons which ravage our country every year,” Arances added.
In Metro Manila, consumers carried a symbolic “bill” displaying the true costs of fossil fuel dependence as they marched to the headquarters of Manila Electric Company (Meralco). Protesters pointed to the company’s reliance on fossil fuels for both power generation and distribution as a key driver of high electricity prices and environmental degradation.
“Meralco’s opting for fossil fuels to power its franchise area comes at the expense of its consumers and of the environment. The intense heat we are experiencing today and the pollution suffered by communities host to Meralco and other generation company’s power plants are telling of how dire fossil fuels have driven the state of our climate and environment. Worse, fossil fuels are costly to both the planet and the pockets of ordinary Filipinos, with power rates rising by PHP 4.15 per kwh in the last five years,” said Arances.
In Batangas City, a prayer rally was held at the Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception. In Cebu, participants marched to the Department of Energy’s regional office, while other actions took place in Mindoro State University and Villanueva, Misamis Oriental.
Labor leader and senatorial aspirant Leody De Guzman joined the call, urging the government to shift away from fossil fuel dependence.
“Nananawagan kami sa pamahalaan: huwag puro salita. Totoohanin natin ang pagsulong ng kuryenteng makatao at makakalikasan. Itigil na ang pagpapalawak pa sa pagtangkilik ng bansa sa mahal at maruming fossil fuels. Panahon nang gumising sa katotohanan: na ang dapat nating inuuna ay kapakanan ng tao at ng kalikasan at hindi tubo para sa iilan. Para rin ito sa kapakanan ng kabataan, at kinabukasan ng susunod na mga henerasyon,” De Guzman said.
The organizers said their actions aimed to reclaim the original spirit of Earth Day — a call to action against environmental destruction and a demand for systemic change in the country’s energy policies.
