Duterte signs energy conservation law

BY CATHERINE S. VALENTE, TMT, May 8, 2019

President Rodrigo Duterte has signed into law a measure institutionalizing energy efficiency and conservation in the Philippines.

Republic Act (RA) 11285 or the “Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act” was signed by the President on April 12, but was released to the media only on Tuesday, May 7.

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte talks to the members of the cabinet prior to the start of the 37th Cabinet Meeting at the Malacañan Palace on May 6, 2019. MALACANANG PHOTO
Under the law, a National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Plan (NEECP) will be formulated to serve as the framework for programs on energy efficiency and conservation.

The framework will introduce fundamental policies on energy efficiency and conservation, including the promotion of efficient and judicious utilization of energy, increase in the utilization of energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies, and the delineation of responsibilities among various government agencies and private entities.

The law also mandates the development and maintenance of a National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Database (NEECD), a centralized, comprehensive and unified database on the application and use of energy-efficient and renewable technologies, and other relevant information about energy consumption.

The Energy Efficiency and Conversation Act delegates the Department of Energy (DoE) as the lead agency responsible for the planning, formulation, development, implementation, enforcement and monitoring of energy management policies and other related energy-efficiency conservation plans and programs.

The DoE is also tasked to develop a system of monitoring the implementation of the NEECP, and to maintain the NEECD.

RA 11285 also instructs the Energy department to initiate and maintain collaborative efforts with the business sector, particularly the commercial, industrial, transport and power sectors, to ensure compliance with the law, and broaden and enhance their efficient and judicious utilization of energy.

The law also seeks national awareness and advocacy campaign on energy-efficiency and conservation that will also be done by the DoE, in partnership with business, academe, nongovernment organizations and other sectors.

The DoE is directed to provide annual reports to the Senate and the House of Representatives, with regard to the status of the implementation of the law at the national and local levels, cost effectiveness outcomes and energy and environmental impacts, among others.

The law orders all government agencies, including government-owned and -controlled corporations to ensure the efficient use of energy in their respective offices, facilities and transportation units, and in the discharge of their functions.

RA 11285 also creates an Inter-Agency Energy Efficiency and Conservation Committee that is tasked to provide strategic direction in the implementation of the government energy management program, a program that will reduce monthly consumption of electricity and petroleum products by the government.

The European Union Access to the Sustainable Energy Program has estimated that a 10-percent improvement in efficiency would save the Philippines P55.5 billion, which translates to a P140 monthly or P1,680 annual savings in the monthly electricity bill of the average household.

The World Bank has also reported that government energy efficiency projects could help the government save P3.4 billion per year.

RA 11285 will take effect after 15 days from its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.