DOE calls for a just PH energy transition in Sweden’s PE2-supported EE event
TAGUIG CITY, 6 June 2023 – Secretary Raphael P.M. Lotilla of the Philippine Department of Energy (DOE) called for a just and fair energy transition, which should avoid the transferring the climate burden to an already overburdened Philippine population. The DOE chief conveyed this message in his keynote speech during the energy efficiency (EE) event “Pioneering the Green Transition,” which was co-organized by the Embassy of Sweden in Manila, and its trade and investment council, Business Sweden and supported by the Philippine Energy Efficiency Alliance (PE2). It was held earlier today in Shangri-La at the Fort.
The event was opened by Swedish Ambassador Annika Thunborg and Business Sweden trade commissioner Kristina Elinder Liljas. The welcome messages and DOE keynote were followed immediately by brief company presentations of Swedish company sponsors, ABB and Atlas Copco, which are both PE2 members, and Hitachi Energy.
PE2 president and Climargy CEO Alexander Ablaza kicked off and led panel discussions on the topics of supply-side energy efficiency and demand-side energy efficiency. Contributing to the rich exchange of views were Fernando Martin Y. Roxas, President and CEO of National Power Corporation, Ariel S. Villaseñor, Vice President for Business Development of First Gen Corporation and Pi Energy, representing the Lopez-led First Philippine Holdings Corporation, Janely Abigail T. Bonita, Assistant Vice President for Sustainability of SM Prime Holdings and Roel Z. Castro, President and CEO of MORE Power. Pi Energy and Climargy are likewise active PE2 regular members. The panelists were asked to volunteer their views on how the Philippines can continue its impressive growth and tackle its energy challenges using EE technologies and solutions provided by Swedish companies.
Business-to-business (B2B) meetings between the Swedish and Filipino companies closed the forum and preceded the celebration of Sweden National Day later in the evening.
DOE Assistant Secretaries Mylene C. Capongcol and Ronald V. Conquilla and DOE Energy Utilization Management Bureau director Patrick T. Aquino joined the DOE delegation of Sec. Lotilla.
