By:
Ronnel W. Domingo - 05:00 AM February 23, 2019
The Philippine Energy
Efficiency Alliance (PE2) has called on the government to immediately sign into
law the energy efficiency and conservation bill, saying every month of delay
deprives the country of an estimated savings of P37.8 trillion through 2040.
PE2 president Alexander
Ablaza said in a statement the Congress’ bicameral conference committee
approved the bill in January, and is being transmitted to the Office of the
President.
“Savings in terms of avoided energy purchases [over the next two decades]—which
will benefit households, small businesses, buildings, industries, public
facilities and other energy end-use sectors—will be less if the passage of the
[bill] slips beyond this first quarter of 2019,” Ablaza said.
“Our energy market
badly needs to arrest the business-as-usual escalation of electricity tariff
and fossil fuel prices, and a further delay in the implementation of
energy-saving projects, programs and investments will only serve to delay their
[tempering] effects on energy price increases,” he added.
Ablaza said the
Philippines has had no energy efficiency law for over 28 years, and the last among
the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to have one.
Last month, the Senate
and House panels agreed to enable foreign-owned energy efficiency and
conservation projects to secure fiscal incentives.
They also agreed to
insert clearer language that mandates local governments to establish energy
efficiency and conservation offices and appoint energy efficiency and
conservation officers.
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