"Kung mabilis ang pagbabago ng klima, dapat mabilis din ang aksyon na ginagawa ng gobyerno," says Joanna Sta. Isabel, Asia Network Coordinator of 350.org.

Experts on Saturday, January 24 called for the urgent need to accelerate the deployment of renewable energy technologies in the Philippines, citing the country’s heavy reliance on imported fossil fuels.

“Ang panawagan po namin sa 350.org ay dapat ma-accelerate ang pag-deploy ng renewable energy technologies sa Pilipinas lalo na marami naman tayong source na kunwari sa solar, sa wind,” said Joanna Sta. Isabel, Asia Network Coordinator of 350.org during an exclusive interview on DZRH's Special On Saturday (SOS) on Friday, January 24.

She said that accelerating the deployment of renewable energy not only benefits the climate but could also help lower electricity costs for Filipino households. According to Sta. Isabel, as renewable energy projects are implemented, the decrease in electricity prices would directly ease the financial burden on consumers.

Sta. Isabel warned that climate change is progressing rapidly and affecting daily life in the Philippines.

“Napakabilis ng pagbabago ng klima at nararanasan po natin ito sa pang-araw-araw nating pamumuhay. At kaya dapat kasing bilis noon ang pag-address ng government. Kung mabilis ang pagbabago ng klima, dapat mabilis din ang aksyon na ginagawa ng gobyerno,” she added.

Deploying renewable energy not only addresses environmental concerns but also helps alleviate the financial burden of electricity costs for households.

Meanwhile, Former Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga also weighed in, noting that while transitioning to renewables is necessary, it must be done with realistic targets.

She also recommended accelerating solar power deployment as a starting point.

When asked about the pace of the country’s transition from nearly 80% fossil fuel dependence to renewable energy, Loyzaga responded: “May transition plan po ang gobyerno and obviously dependent ito not just on government making the policy environment na karapat-dapat dito sa mabilis na transition, but also on the way the private sector of course invests in this."

She emphasized that both the government and the private sector must work together.

"Ang importante lang po is the target. How much do we want to pay today? How much will we be able to pay 6-7 years from now? Ang Pilipinas lang po in Asia halos wala tayong subsidy sa presyon ng kuryente. So ang binabayaran po natin ay yung real cost. Of course may tubo dyan yung private investor. So kailangan realistic ang ating targets. Solar is the most immediate and pwede pong i-accelerate yan ngayon,” she said.

Loyzaga pointed out the need for coordinated efforts across government and society to address climate change. While the Philippines has submitted a national adaptation plan and nationally determined contributions, she admitted the country still lacks experience in handling "extreme" weather events such as typhoons.

"Adaptation was number one for me kasi po ang impact ng climate change ay immediate sa atin. And usually in an emergency situation, pwede po natin pahandaan ito in order for the impact to be mitigated," she said.

"Yung pangalawa po yung mitigation, yung tinatawag na pagbaba po ng greenhouse gas po natin. At may national plans at local plans po dapat ang each local government dito sa adaptation and mitigation.

“Hindi po natin hawak pa kung papaano ba natin matugunan ang impact ng mga extremes na ito. At may mga solusyon, kailangan po lahat, whole of government, whole of society ang kailangan po," Loyzaga added.