Church calls for coal transition plan to protect Semirara workers

MANILA — Religious leaders in Antique province are pressing the government to establish formal protections for workers affected by the coal industry's expected decline at Semirara Island. The Diocese of Antique made the appeal following consultations with residents of the mining community in Caluya town, urging that a Just Transition Roadmap be incorporated into the Philippine Energy Plan.

The proposed roadmap would address the employment and livelihood concerns of workers dependent on coal mining operations at Semirara, one of the country's major coal producers. The Diocese emphasized the need to align economic transition measures with the government's renewable energy commitments, ensuring affected communities do not bear the costs of the energy shift alone.

The call reflects broader concerns about the social impact of decarbonization efforts in the Philippines, where coal mining remains a significant employer in certain regions. A structured transition plan would ideally include skills training, alternative livelihood programs, and support mechanisms for workers and their families during the shift to cleaner energy sources.

The Department of Energy has yet to respond formally to the Diocese's request to integrate the Semirara transition roadmap into the broader Philippine Energy Plan framework.