Lopez-led First Gen Corp. (FGen) is urging the government to accelerate the rollout of renewable energy (RE) projects to reduce the nation's heavy reliance on coal.

Speaking at the 3rd Philippine Renewable Energy Conference, FGen President Francis Giles Puno said that coal-fired power still makes up a significant portion of the country's energy mix despite government efforts to transition to cleaner energy.

While a coal moratorium is technically in place, Puno noted that its effectiveness is limited by several exemptions.

“Today, coal still accounts for 62 percent of the energy mix,” Puno said. “And while a coal moratorium is officially in place, its effectiveness is compromised by broad exceptions.”

He cited a recent example of a coal-fired plant that was re-approved by the Department of Energy (DOE).

The DOE has previously clarified that the 2020 coal moratorium is not an outright ban, as it allows for exemptions for existing or planned projects that are subject to government review.

Puno argued that these exemptions, or “loopholes,” undermine investor confidence in the country's energy transition.

“The continued reliance on coal raises difficult questions,” he stated.

According to Puno, coal has “hidden costs” that include environmental degradation, public health impacts, and increased climate vulnerability.

To tackle these issues, he called for stronger government support for RE projects, clearer policies on the role of natural gas as a transition fuel, and a stricter enforcement of the coal ban.

Puno also highlighted the need for smarter energy systems and complementary technologies like geothermal, hydropower, and battery energy storage systems (BESS) to support a higher RE capacity.

He noted that fossil fuels still account for over 76 percent of the country’s electricity needs, with coal making up 62 percent and natural gas at 14 percent.