DoE asks gov’t agencies to reduce energy use for COVID-19 fund

THE Department of Energy (DoE) directed government agencies to adopt energy-saving measures so that more funds can be channeled to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) response. “[A]ll concerned government agencies are enjoined to implement energy conservation projects and measures to achieve at least ten percent (10%) cost savings in the petroleum products, air, steam, and electricity consumption that would result to the addition to government’s resources to contain the spread of COVID-19,” Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi said in an advisory signed May 8 and released late Monday. Government offices have been ordered to report to the DoE their energy efficiency plan with target savings and other strategies. Meanwhile, there is an estimated P66 billion capital gap for energy efficiency projects by government-run facilities, according to the Philippine Energy Efficiency Alliance (PE2). The group recently proposed a P55-billion share in the stimulus package to bolster green projects alongside the country’s economic recovery after the COVID-19 crisis.