Published December 14, 2020, 11:38 AM The burden of diseases from air pollution caused by coal-fired power plants costs Filipinos P8.5 billion annually, a new report by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) revealed Monday. The report titled “Air Quality and Health Impact of Coal-Fired Power in the Philippines” provided an analysis of the air quality, toxic deposition, and health impacts of coal plants in the Philippines, as well as its cost to the public and the economy. “The climate crisis, air pollution, and the pandemic are mutually compounding threats that have coal at their center. This report sheds light on the hidden health and economic costs of coal, which has long been the dominant source of energy in our country,” said CREA Southeast Asia analyst Isabella Suarez.