DOE Secretary Alfonso Cusi
MANILA – Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Alfonso Cusi said the Philippines is on track to achieving the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) number seven, or the access to affordable and clean energy.
In his speech at the virtual 5th Global Conference on Energy Efficiency of the International Energy Agency (IEA) Tuesday evening (Manila time), Cusi said the Philippine government continues to develop energy efficiency and conservation framework and create policies to promote economic gains of energy conservation.
“Our strategies are anchored upon attaining the twin goals of energy security and sustainability,” he said. “Without sacrificing the achievement of national energy security, we continue to support the development and utilization of renewable resources and technology.”
Cusi said government policies that push for clean energy include renewable portfolio standards that mandates utility companies to source a minimum portion of energy from renewable resources; the Green Energy Option Program that empowers consumers to source their consumption from renewable energy resources; and the proposed Green Energy Pricing Program, which will augment renewable energy capacity in the grid.
He also invited investors in the energy sector to look into opportunities in the Philippines, with its growing population and rising power demand, as well as its target to be energy self-sufficient.
“It is important for the Philippines to be energy self-sufficient. We cannot be at the mercy of global energy market volatilities and other geopolitical movements,” he added.
The DOE chief said the country is pushing for exploration and development of indigenous energy resources and revitalizing the upstream oil and gas sector.
It also finds ways to develop and promote indigenous resources like hydropower and geothermal, he said.
The Philippines, he added, also pursues technology neutral policy in the power sector that welcomes all forms of technology to help the country achieve its capacity targets at the soonest possible time.
With the technology neutral policy, Cusi said the DOE is also pushing for the utilization of nuclear power.
“I strongly believe it is high time for the Philippines to be open to the idea. Nuclear power is a reliable alternative to attain energy sufficiency and meet future power demands,” he said. (PNA)
