Environment Secretary Jose Atienza Jr. has said the Philippines is not yet ready to let go of its coal-fired power plants because it needs the power sources.

Atienza made the admission following the clamor of environmental groups to shift to cleaner and renewable sources of energy.

Atienza said his department supports the environmental group Greenpeace, which is seeking an end to the use of coal plants, but "we have to consider the national concern."

"We have to avail of this fuel to run our plants, unless you want total darkness in some areas of the country," he said.

He said the issue should be studied more carefully before making a stance.

He said his department is against putting up coal-fired power plants inside the cities because of the risks that they pose to many people. However, he said "coal-fired power plants outside (the cities), we could consider."

Atienza asked Greenpeace for more understanding, saying that "since we are in the government, in providing service to people we could not impose our own sentiments. There are other concerns we have to consider."

"We're not totally against or for coal," he said.

Greenpeace said it was confused about Atienza's position and urged the environment chief to think renewable energy sources instead.

"The allusion that people in the provinces can be allowed to suffer the toxic effects of operating a coal-fired power plant while people from Manila should be protected from it is outrageous," Greenpeace Climate and Energy Campaigner Jasper Inventor said.

Greenpeace said studies have shown that Mercury, the most toxic among the substances that coal plants emit can travel as far as 600 kilometers.

Inventor said coal, wherever it is built, would continue to emit carbon dioxide and damage the environment.