Quezon for Environment (QUEEN) and the Philippine Movement for Climate Justice (PMCJ) groups are calling for a new environmental assessment of the proposed 1,200-megawatt (MW) Atimonan coal-fired power plant, questioning whether its decade-old study adequately reflects current environmental conditions.
QUEEN and PMCJ raised the issue during a public hearing before the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) ng Quezon on October 19, 2026, according to a press release issued by the groups.
“The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of the project needs to be updated considering the environment, current climate risks, and community concerns,” the petition read.
The provincial board's Committees on Energy and Environment were expected to draft a resolution requesting the Department of Environment and Natural Resources–Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB) to require Atimonan One Energy Inc. (A1E) to conduct a new assessment. The press release clarified that the proposed resolution was not yet an order from the agency.
Fr. Warren Puno of QUEEN said the project's repeated changes in fuel technology warrant renewed scrutiny.
“They tried to revive this project many times, changing it from coal to gas, then back to coal. If they dare, they must renew and redo their documents. We are standing by our people and environment,” Puno said.
A 2021 investigation report by the Compliance Advisor Ombudsman stated that the project's Environmental Impact Statement was prepared between March 2014 and June 2015. The project received environmental clearance in 2015. Whether the existing assessment remains sufficient under current requirements is for regulators to determine.
900-MW MERALCO BID IN FOCUS
The renewed opposition comes as Meralco PowerGen Corp. (MGen) seeks to participate in a competitive selection process for a 900-MW baseload electricity supply contract with Manila Electric Co. (Meralco).
The contract was an opportunity for MGen to push the proposed Atimonan plant.
The proposed 15-year deal is for 600 MW from February 2031 and 300 MW from February 2032. These figures relate to the supply contract, not the total proposed capacity of the plant, which is 1,200 MW.
“It was not a fair bidding process,” said PMCJ Luzon coordinator Erwin Puhawan, referring to the corporate relationship of Meralco and MGen. The group raised questions about potential conflicts of interest, but those allegations don’t demonstrate that procurement rules have been broken.
COAL ORDINANCE UNDER SCRUTINY
Quezon's coal regulation ordinance, passed in June 2026, has also drawn attention. LiCAS News and BusinessMirror reported that the ordinance's restrictions on coal expansion exempted the proposed A1E plant.
PMCJ national coordinator Ian Rivera called for a managed transition away from coal.
“Planned and managed coal phase-out is the only way,” Rivera said in the press release.
The groups are urging provincial officials to clarify the ordinance's implementation and address the project's environmental implications.
ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS PERSIST
The Atimonan project has faced opposition from residents, church leaders, and environmental organizations for more than a decade. Earlier consultations documented concerns about potential air and water pollution, marine ecosystems, public health, and community livelihoods.
The Department of Energy has maintained a moratorium on new coal-fired power plants while allowing certain qualifying projects to proceed under exemptions.
Environmental groups are calling for an updated assessment and greater government transparency. The province’s energy discussion continues to be focused on the project’s environmental review and the reach of Quezon’s coal ordinance as the proposed supply contract advances.
(Anna Gob)
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