Cebuanos told to conserve energy

CEBU CITY – The Department of Energy (DOE) called on Cebuanos to conserve energy and at the same time push for the use of renewable or green energy.

DOE Undersecretary Felix William Fuentebella, who was here recently with other government officials, even cited Republic Act (RA) 11285 or the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act signed by President Rodrigo Duterte in 2019 which is anchored on the government’s environmental preservation.

Fuentebella said the RA 11285 is a comprehensive law that encompasses government responses not only on environmental issues but on the economy as well, adding the effort of educating the consumers and investors on the importance of investing in “green energy” will help them cope with the rising cost of doing business.

“The economics of this is very good for the country. The economics of this is very good for the environment as well because once we change our behavior, once we change the investor’s behavior to invest on energy efficiency, on renewable energy (RE), create workshops on energy security in the Philippines,” Fuentebella said.

He said energy conservation was the first response when the country was hit by the financial crisis as well as the oil price increases in 2008 and recently, the Covid-19 pandemic and deadly typhoons, including the current conflict between Ukraine and Russia which resulted in the rising cost of producing basic goods and created an impact on the consumers.

“These international events that affect our economy, energy efficiency is one of the first things that NEDA (National Economic and Development Authority) tells the Department of Energy,” he said.

Fuentebella said although the country has enough renewable energy professionals or developers, they need more motivation to push government efforts in promoting non-conventional sources of power through the adaption of solar, wind, geothermal, and other sources of electricity.

He also underscored RA 11697 or the Electric Vehicle Industry Development Law, which provides for the development of electric vehicles to reduce the country’s reliance on imported fuel, saying the local market is ready to embrace these types of vehicles.

“We are working hand-in-hand with various government agencies to promote them,” he said.

Michael Goho, executive vice president of Gateway Motors Cebu and Nissan’s biggest dealer in the country, lauded the RA 11697 and cited the law as proof that the government’s electrification strategy is gaining momentum and we are one with them and the electric vehicle industry in taking this strategy to the next level. (John Rey Saavedra)