THE slow implementation of the Renewable Energy Act of 2008 worsened the country’s energy problems and led to the power shortage in Mindanao, Senator Edgardo Angara said Sunday.
With 13 other senators, Angara sponsored the bill that led to the act that many, including the World Wide Fund for Nature, described as one of the most comprehensive and forward-looking renewable energy laws in the world.
“Ours has remained a laggard economy because we have not dealt with our energy problems decisively,” Angara said in a speech delivered on his behalf by Luis Arriola of Asean Biztimes at the recent 2nd Philippine Renewable Energy Summit.
“Energy is an area that requires clear vision and a definite direction.”
In other developments:
• The high cost of electricity in the Philippines and the continuing power shortage in Mindanao have prompted left-leaning lawmakers Teddy Casiño and Luz Ilagan to demand the repeal of the Electric Power Industry Reform Act and the reversal of the Aquino administration’s privatization policy.
Agham party-list Rep. Angelo Palmones said that law caused the Philippines to get the distinction of having the most expensive electricity rates in Asia and Oceania.
• Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez, Maguindanao Rep. Simeon Datumanong, and Zambalez Rep. Milagros Magsaysay welcomed President Benigno Aquino III’s call for a review of the Energy and Power Industry Reform Act. But Casiño said “the President’s agreement to review [that law] does not mean anything unless it is in the framework of junking the privatization and deregulation of the industry.
Agham party-list Rep. Angelo Palmones said Mr. Aquino’s call to review the controversial law should finally move the House energy committee to act on several pending bills for the purpose.
Angara said the clear direction on the country’s policy on energy had already been charted charted by the Renewable Energy Act.
“We had already arrived on a solution long before the recent spate of [rolling blackouts] in Mindanao happened,” Angara said.
He said the Energy Department had approved 268 renewable energy service contracts since 2009, but the important policy mechanisms provided in the renewable energy law had yet to be implemented on account of ongoing deliberations.
Those mechanisms include the Renewable Portfolio Standards, the guidelines on net metering and Renewable Energy Certificates, and the feed-in-tariff system.
“While we should weigh matters of immense public interest carefully, we also should not allow reflection to turn into inaction,” said Angara, chairman of the Senate’s science and technology committee.
“Caution should not evolve into foot-dragging that translates into an unresponsive, short-sighted energy policy.
“We can do better considering that we are the second largest producer of geothermal energy in the world, next only to the United States. We are also the top wind power producer in Southeast Asia, and we receive double the solar flux European countries get in a year.
“Unfortunately, we are not maximizing this potential or the regulatory framework we had endeavored to put in place.” With Maricel Cruz
(Published in the Manila Standard Today newspaper on /2012/April/23) article source
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