Push Admin

Groups, religious leaders urge voters: Pick pro-environment candidates

Article (news)

Jasmin Romero, ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — Over 100 civil society groups and religious leaders on Monday urged voters to pick candidates with environmental development plans in the upcoming May elections.</p><p>&quot;In May 2022, we urge you to choose and support candidates at the national and local levels who heed the &#x27;cry of the poor and cry of the Earth&#x27; and thus, will push for this nationalist green development path for the Filipino people and our environment,&quot; the groups said in a unity statement.</p><p>&quot;Economic development is not about more profits, vehicles, and skyscrapers. Economic growth can no longer be at the expense of the environment, but rather, the economy must be directed towards sustained progress that prioritizes planetary and peoples’ health,&quot; they said.</p><p>Among those who signed the statement are the Catholic Bishops&#x27; Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) National Secretariat for Social Action, EcoWaste Coalition, Environmental Science for Social Change, Episcopal Commission on Indigenous Peoples National Secretariat, Greenpeace Southeast Asia - Philippines, Greenresearch Environmental Research Group Inc., Laudato Si’ Movement - Pilipinas, Living Laudato Si’ Philippines, Philippine Misereor Partnership Inc., and the Philippine Movement for Climate Justice.</p><div><strong>Other signatories include:</strong></div><ul>	<li>350 Pilipinas</li>	<li>Action for Nurturing Children and Environment, Cebu (ANCE)</li>	<li>Action on Smoking &amp; Health (ASH) Philippines</li>	<li>Agro-Technical Assistance and Livelihood Opportunities in the North, Inc. (Agtalon)</li>	<li>AlterTrade Foundation, Inc</li>	<li>Arugaan</li>	<li>Balay Alternative Legal Advocates for Development in Mindanaw, Inc. (BALAOD) </li>	<li>Ban Toxics</li>	<li>Bangon Marawi CSO Platform</li>	<li>Bangus Fry Catchers Association of Zambales</li>	<li>Bayay Sibuyanon Inc.</li>	<li>Break Free From Plastic</li>	<li>Buklod TAO</li>	<li>Camarines Norte Movement for Climate Justice</li>	<li>Caritas Caceres</li>	<li>Caritas Capiz</li>	<li>Caritas Cebu</li>	<li>Caritas Gumaca</li>	<li>Caritas La Union</li>	<li>Caritas Libmanan</li>	<li>Caritas Novaliches</li>	<li>Caritas Palo</li>	<li>Caritas Sorsogon</li>	<li>Caritas Tarlac</li>	<li>Caucus of Development NGO Networks, Inc. (CODE-NGO)</li>	<li>Cavite Green Coalition</li>	<li>Center for Disaster Preparedness Foundation, Inc. (CDP)</li>	<li>Center for Renewable Energy and Sustainable Technology (CREST)</li>	<li>Centro Saka (Philippine Center for Rural Development Studies)</li>	<li>Citizens Environment Network (CEN)</li>	<li>Climate Action for Sustainability Initiative (KASALI)</li>	<li>Community Organizers Multiversity (CO-Multiversity)</li>	<li>Community-led Empowering Action for Resilience Network (CLEARNet)</li>	<li>Concerned Citizens of Sta. Cruz, Zambales</li>	<li>Consumer Rights for Safe Food (CRSF)</li>	<li>Diocesan Social Action Center of Boac</li>	<li>Diocesan Social Action Center of Bontoc-Lagawe</li>	<li>Diocesan Social Action Center of Cabanatuan</li>	<li>Diocesan Social Action Center of Calapan</li>	<li>Diocesan Social Action Center of Cotabato</li>	<li>Diocesan Social Action Center of Digos</li>	<li>Diocesan Social Action Center of Dipolog</li>	<li>Diocesan Social Action Center of Kabankalan</li>	<li>Diocesan Social Action Center of Kidapawan</li>	<li>Diocesan Social Action Center of Marawi</li>	<li>Diocesan Social Action Center of Marbel</li>	<li>Diocesan Social Action Center of Mati</li>	<li>Diocesan Social Action Center of San Carlos</li>	<li>Diocesan Social Action Center of San Jose (Mindoro)</li>	<li>Ecological Society of the Philippines (ESP)</li>	<li>Ecosystems Work for Essential Benefits Inc. (ECOWEB)</li>	<li>Ecoteneo, Davao</li>	<li>Environmental Legal Assistance (ELAC)</li>	<li>EveGrocer</li>	<li>Foundation for the Development of the Urban Poor</li>	<li>Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Alliance, Philippines (FCAP)</li>	<li>Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception of the Holy Mother of God (SFIC)</li>	<li>Freedom from Debt Coalition</li>	<li>Freedom from Debt Coalition - Western Mindanao Chapter</li>	<li>Gitib, Inc Resource Center - Mindanao</li>	<li>Health Care Without Harm Southeast Asia – Philippines (HCWH)</li>	<li>Igorota Foundation Inc.</li>	<li>Indigenous Peoples Apostolate of the Archdiocese of Nueva Caceres</li>	<li>Indigenous Peoples Apostolate of the Vicariate of Taytay, Palawan</li>	<li>Initiatives for Dialogue and Empowerment through Alternative Legal Services (IDEALS)</li>	<li>Institute for the Development of Educational and Ecological Alternatives Inc. (IDEAS)</li>	<li>Institute of Spirituality in Asia (ISA)</li>	<li>Interfacing Development Interventions for Sustainability (IDIS), Inc.</li>	<li>International Visitor Leadership Program-Philippines. (IVLP-PH)</li>	<li>Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation Commission - Association of Major Religious Superiors of the Philippines (JPICC-AMRSP)</li>	<li>Kaalagad Katipunang Kristiyano</li>	<li>Kabataan Para sa Kalikasan ng Atimonan (KAPAKANAN)</li>	<li>KATARUNGAN(Kilusan para sa Repormang Agraryo at Katarungan ng Lipunan)</li>	<li>Koalisyon Isalbar Ti Pintas Ti La Union (Save the Beauty of La Union)</li>	<li>Kongreso ng Pagkakaisa Maralitang Lungsod (KPML)</li>	<li>Lanao del Sur People’s Council</li>	<li>Managing Alternatives Group Inc.</li>	<li>Medical Action Group (MAG)</li>	<li>Mindanao Center for Local Governance, Inc.</li>	<li>Mother Earth Foundation (MEF)</li>	<li>Musika Publiko</li>	<li>National Coalition to Save the Trees (NCST)</li>	<li>Oriang Womens’ Movement - Mindanao</li>	<li>Palawan NGO Network Inc. (PNNI)</li>	<li>PAMUO, Inc</li>	<li>PARAGOS-Pilipinas</li>	<li>Partnership for Clean Air (PCA)</li>	<li>Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA)</li>	<li>Philippine Movement for Climate Justice - Cebu Chapter</li>	<li>Philippine Movement for Climate Justice - Davao Chapter</li>	<li>Philippine Movement for Climate Justice - Eastern Visayas Chapter</li>	<li>Philippine Movement for Climate Justice - Western Mindanao Chapter</li>	<li>Piglas - Kababaihan</li>	<li>Prelature of Infanta-Community Organization of the Philippines Inc. (PI-COPI) </li>	<li>Protect Manicani Island Society Incorporated (PROMISI)</li>	<li>Provincial Women Council - Lanao Del Sur</li>	<li>Pusyon Kinaiyahan</li>	<li>RIGHTS (Rural Poor Institute for Land and Human Rights Services), Inc.</li>	<li>Sanlakas – Mindanao</li>	<li>Save Sierra Madre Network Alliance Inc. (SSMNAI)</li>	<li>Save Sual Movement</li>	<li>Save Zambales Kalikasan Movement</li>	<li>Social Action Center (SAC) of the Diocese of Borongan</li>	<li>Southeast Asian Institute of Development Alternatives (SAIDA)</li>	<li>Suara Kalilintad (Maguindanao)</li>	<li>Sustainable Energy and Enterprise Development for Communities, inc. (SEED)</li>	<li>TAO (Technical Assistance Organization) Pilipinas, Inc. (TAO-Pilipinas) </li>	<li>The Climate Reality Project Philippines (TCRP)</li>	<li>Urban Poor Associates (UPA)</li>	<li>Women in Development (WID) Foundation</li>	<li>Youth for Climate Justice (Y4CJ)</li>	<li>Zambales Lingap Kalikasan (ZALIKA)</li>	<li>Zambales Movement for Climate Justice (ZMCJ)</li>	<li>Zamboanga Society of Environment and Ecology Defenders (ZSEED)</li>	<li>115. Zero Waste Baguio</li></ul><p>Members of the signatory groups recommended phasing out the use of single-use plastics, promotion of &quot;zero waste&quot; culture, and formal integration of climate and environmental education in schools.</p><p>The next leaders must also be able to steer the country towards the use of cleaner energy resources and curb dependency on coal, the groups said.</p><p>&quot;In the Philippines, we need to end our dependence on coal way before this decade ends and halt massive expansion of fossil gas [and] rapidly scale up renewables, ideally by at least 50 percent in the national mix by 2030,&quot; said San Carlos Bishop Gerardo Alminaza, also the vice chair of Caritas Philippines.</p><p>The groups, however, declined to name a presidential candidate that they would support, insisting on being &quot;non-partisan.&quot;</p><div><strong>FROM THE ARCHIVES</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=1655891" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div>

Over 100 civil society groups and religious leaders called on the public to vote for candidates with an 'nationalist green development path.' 

Groups, religious leaders urge voters: Pick pro-environment candidates

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Sudoku

Word of the Day

Lotto

Horoscope

News

Groups, religious leaders urge voters: Pick pro-environment candidates

Jasmin Romero,

ABS-CBN News

Published February 07, 2022 04:56 PM PHT

Read More:

elections

2022 elections

environment

CBCP

EcoWaste Coalition

Greenpace

Caritas

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.