By: Daxim L. Lucas - 04:19 PM
January 20, 2017
The Department of Energy (DOE) wants
the local power industry to adapt, improve and be more proactive in ensuring
the resiliency of the energy sector in the face of the onslaught of natural
calamities like recent typhoons.
In a statement, Energy Secretary
Alfonso Cusi made the assurance that the country’s power infrastructure will be
“hardened” as he revealed that the DOE is updating the standard operating
procedures and emergency response mechanisms of the sector to mitigate the impact
of calamities.
“Disaster risk reduction is always a
priority along with immediate restoration of power during outages caused by
natural calamities,” Cusi said. “We have to live by the new reality that
typhoons, in particular, have become far stronger because of the effects of
climate change.”
He said the best practices in
disaster risk reduction being employed by various government agencies including
the DOE is being continuously overhauled, tweaked or upgraded to be more
responsive in addressing today’s challenges.
“On the part of the DOE, we are
reviewing the protocols to be followed by energy sector players, especially the
measures on climate change adaptation,” the Energy chief added.
Cusi said the DOE has been strictly
following the measures set forth by the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and
Management Act of 2010 (Republic Act No. 10121) as implemented by the National
Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, of which the DOE chief is a
member.
He identified “Task Force Kapatid”
as one of the measures employed by the energy family, through the supervision
of the National Electrification Administration (NEA).
The task force facilitates the
repair and rehabilitation of lines and the restoration of electric service
during disasters in coordination with the NDRRMC.
“We constantly convene industry
partners to encourage climate change adaptation in order to reduce the
vulnerability of our power supply system against future calamities,” Cusi said.
“We are constantly on the lookout
for better systems and technologies, as well as standard operating procedures
and protocols in undertaking repair and rehabilitation of damaged lines and
energy facilities,” he added.
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