HCWH ASIA IN THE NEWS by X-Rappler

MANDALUYONG CITY, PHILIPPINES - As a tribute to the 17th Anniversary of the Clean Air Act on June 23, health and energy group Health Care Without Harm-Asia launched their #ChooseHealthyEnergy campaign last Friday, June 16, to urge government sectors and health sectors to move towards a renewable and healthier energy for the environment.

 

In working towards a cleaner environment for society, Health Care Without Harm-Asia is part of an international coalition that aims to transform the health sector worldwide without sacrificing patient care and medical assistance.

 

This campaign is supported by personalities who serve as ambassadors for the cause namely Senator Risa Hontiveros, former Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Dr. Esperanza Cabral, GMA Radio Host Renzmark “Papa Dudut” Ricafrente, Fr. Robert Reyes, Dr. Stef dela Cruz, Irina Otmakahova, Marky Ramone Go, Ma. Fatima Villena, Denise Ventura-Sarmiento, Nikki Torres, Toni Nicolas, and Niccolo Cosme.

 

Targeting health sectors and government sectors such as DOH, Department of Energy (DOE), and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Health Care Without Harm’s Campaigner for Healthy Energy Initiative Paeng Lopez explained that the #ChooseHealthyEnergy campaign calls to make a stand against coal and other unhealthy sources of energy.

 

Advocating a healthy energy platform

 

“We have to harness the power of social media with our goal to mobilize the healthcare sector [...] because [...] it is a prime consumer of energy and [...] I think that the healthcare sector is a source of relatively objective scientific information,” #ChooseHealthyEnergy’s Chairperson of the Board of Trustees Ronnel Lim stated.

 

Despite not attending the formal launching of the campaign, Senator Hontiveros appeals to rally support behind renewable energy and to convince the government to invest in a clean future and livable environment through a video message.

 

“Why must we transition to healthy energy, because healthy energy, dito maiiwasan ang bilang ng mga nagkakasakit dahil sa pagkuha mula sa maling enerhiya para manumbalik ang muling pagsigla ng mundo,” Ricafrente encourages, also in a video message. (Why must we transition to healthy energy, because healthy energy, this is where we lessen the number of people who are getting sick because of getting (energy) from inappropriate sources to restore the growth of our environment.”