Thursday, December 2, 2010

Aquino seeks private sector help in alternative energy

By Abigail Kwok
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 15:03:00 12/02/2010


MANILA, Philippines -- Acknowledging that the country’s power situation is at a “critical juncture,” President Benigno Aquino III on Thursday sought the help of the private sector in government’s efforts of tapping into alternative sources of energy.

Speaking during the opening of the Renewable Energy Conference and Expo 2010 in Makati City, Aquino promised incentives for those in the private sector who will extend support to the government.

“We will not let your sacrifices go to waste; we will not allow your hard work to be taken for granted. There will be results. This we will make sure of, so that the people in this sector, present here today or not, may be invigorated in their profession, and may renew their own energies in working for the Filipino people,” Aquino said in his speech.

Aquino stressed the importance of public-private partnerships to help the government build more plants that will supply energy to far-flung communities.

Aquino said that the country is rich in alternative sources of energy such as hydropower, geothermal, biomass, solar and wind, trailing only behind United States as the world’s largest supplier of geothermal energy.

These alternative sources of energy should be tapped, Aquino said, as electricity is becoming all the more “unreliable” due to lack of investments, retirement of several power plants, and even climate change.

“As I have said, the natural potential bestowed upon our country is impressive, but there is work to be done so that these resources can be harnessed well. The necessary infrastructure should also be established in compliance with our laws to benefit as many Filipinos as possible,” Aquino said in his speech.

With the aid of Republic Act 9513 (Philippine Renewable Energy Law), Aquino said renewable energy got a boost with the awarding of over 200 renewable energy contracts, 33 of which are already operating.

“We will not stop working until the operation of all these projects is ensured. We will continue making opportunities for similar renewable energy projects that will ultimately pay more dividends to the Filipino people,” Aquino said.

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