Energy Secretary Zenaida Monsada rejected proposals to impose a tax on carbon emissions, which she said could push up power rates.
Monsada, speaking at the Shell Powering Progress Together-Asia forum, said the power rate in the country was already very high.
“There was a mention of carbon tax. The concern is we already have a very high power rate. We’re not competitive with our neighbors because of this high rate and it would not be a good idea to impose carbon tax on coal,” Monsada said.
The energy chief said the Energy Department was instead encouraging the use of more renewable energy and the reclassification of the power plants into baseload, mid-merit or peaking plants.
“[Carbon pricing] can be part of consideration but putting tax on carbon may lead to higher prices,” Monsada said.