PE2 shares stimulus position in House Energy panel meeting on “new normal”
QUEZON CITY, 13 May 2020 – The Committee on Energy (COE) of the House of Representatives invited Philippine Energy Efficiency Alliance (PE2) and other energy sector stakeholders in a virtual meeting held earlier today to exchange views on actions taken since the start of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) for what could collectively evolve as the Energy Sectors’ Planned Mitigating Measures and Plans for the “New Normal.” During this meeting, the COE and PE2 were able to discuss the latter’s recommendations for inclusion of energy efficiency in the economic stimulus package being deliberated in the House of Representatives.
Aside from PE2, the House COE also invited senior officials of the Department of Energy (DOE), National Electrification Administration (NEA), Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC), Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), National Power Corporation (NPC), National Transmission Corporation (TransCo), National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corporation (PSALM), Philippine Electricity Market Corporation (PEMC), Independent Electricity Market Operators of the Phils. (IEMOP), Manila Electric Company (Meralco), Philippine IPP Association (PIPPA), Aboitiz Power Corporation, First Gen Power Corporation, Energy Development Corporation (EDC), SMC Global and the Philippine Rural Electric Cooperatives Association (PHILRECA).
Reports of invited agencies and organizations were kicked off with the DOE presentation of Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi and Undersecretary Felix William B. Fuentebella. All other entities reported on the impacts and activities during the ECQ implementation, as well as their recommendations on the “new normal” scenarios.
The House COE meeting was convened and moderated by its Chairman, Rep. Lord Allan Jay Q. Velasco.
The PE2 report was delivered by its president Alexander Ablaza.
PE2 told the body that the restricted mobility of energy efficiency technologies and services during ECQ has affected the energy services sector, especially in the delivery of operation and maintenance services of energy systems of vital facilities, including hospitals and airport terminals.
Ablaza informed the COE that PE2 issued a position statement entitled “Supporting the International Energy Agency’s Call to Include Energy Efficiency as Economic Stimulus,” which was officially submitted on 30 April 2020 to the three Co-Chairpersons of the House Economic Stimulus Response Package (ESRP) Cluster of the Defeat COVID-19 Special Committee (DCC), namely Rep. Joey S. Salceda, Rep. Sharon S. Garin and Rep. Stella Luz A. Quimbo, in aid of legislation of an urgent economic stimulus bill. In the position statement, PE2 fully supports the policy recommendation of the International Energy Agency (IEA) that governments include energy efficiency as a major pillar of proposed economic stimulus packages as countries plan their recovery pathways from the COVID-19 impacts. PE2 reported that the IEA released on 8 April 2020 its paper “Energy Efficiency and Economic Stimulus – IEA Strategic Considerations for Policy Makers.”
During the COE interpellations, Rep. Garin asked PE2 to elaborate on its position to include energy efficiency in the stimulus package. She reported to the COE that the ESRP Cluster is studying the PE2 position. Based on Ablaza’s description of energy efficiency projects, Rep. Garin shared her view that energy efficiency is best classified under the “Build, Build, Build” infrastructure program of Government, which has a dedicated component under the consolidated Philippine Economic Stimulus bill.
On behalf of PE2, Ablaza thanked the COE Chairman and Rep. Garin for receiving the PE2 position.
