The Power for People Coalition joined the Diocese of Lucena in opposing the three coal-fired power plant projects in Quezon.
Gerry Arances, convenor of P4P, said "no new coal project must stand in Filipinos' way to clean and affordable energy for all."
"We stand in solidarity with communities in Quezon in their bid to abandon coal," he said in a statement Monday.
"We commit to support this through all means available to us," added Arances.
P4P along with the Church in Quezon province and community members filed a petition against a coal plant at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in November 2019 for the plant's alleged failure to adhere to environmental and community education requirements.
The Diocese of Lucena on Monday issued a statement calling for the cancellation of three coal-fired power plant projects proposed to be built by SMC Global Power Holdings and Meralco's Atimonan One Energy (A1E) in Quezon.
"We call upon these corporations and their power subsidiaries to listen to the cry of the Earth and cancel their plans to set up this dirty, deadly, and costly source of energy. We appeal to the local and national government and their respective agencies to listen to the cry of the people of Quezon and disallow these projects and any further coal plants in our beloved province," the statement signed by over 100 members of the clergy including Lucena Bishop Mel Rey Uy read.
"Already, the people of Quezon have suffered respiratory and skin diseases associated with toxic coal plant emissions. They have been robbed of their land, their livelihood, and their rights from pollution, development aggression, and exclusion from decision-making processes," it further read.
The diocese said they oppose the coal-fired power plants because these are entirely inconsistent with the care of the “common home” or the natural environment which is desperately needed today.
"Their cancellation not only prevents massive greenhouse gas emissions but will stand as a decisive rejection of all unsustainable and carbon-intensive practices here in Quezon and the rest of the country," the statement read.
The issuance of the statement coincided with the start of the observance of the Season of Creation on September 1.
The Season of Creation is an annual period of prayer and action to address looming ecological issues, especially the climate crisis.