This adaptation to the ‘new normal’ will see a transition to renewable energy, with access to affordable energy being important in economic development.

The private sector has joined the call to accelerate efforts to develop sustainable and affordable energy supply in the country amid a surge in demand brought about by the global health crisis.

The Philippine Energy Independence Council (PEIC) and the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP) urged the government and industry stakeholders to create a roadmap not just to reverse economic slowdown and address health risks but also to provide Filipinos easy access to efficient energy.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted how crucial the role energy plays in making the Philippines more resilient and more inclusive.

This adaptation to the ‘new normal’ will see a transition to renewable energy, with access to affordable energy being important in economic development,” PEIC chair Lt. Gen. Rozzano Briguez said in a virtual presser.

“The Philippines is still on the brink of energy uncertainty.

The cost of electricity in the country is among the highest in Southeast Asia.

We must continuously explore in our backyard for indigenous sources,” Briguez, who is also the president of the Philippine National Oil Co.-Exploration Corporation (PNOC-EC), added.

Meanwhile, PEIC president Rolando Paulino Jr. underscored the need to expand the discussion on climate change and collaboration among all stakeholders.

“There will be a continuous clamor for clean energy which will come from the youth and general population. Recent studies showed that by 2024, wind and solar will overtake the capacity of coal and other fossil fuels,” he said.

Paulino added that some of the challenges can be resolved with behavioral changes, like the consumers’ understanding of the consumption they have on a monthly basis.

By Maria Romero
Source: Daily Tribune