PHL energy policy review to start on June 15

The Climate Change Commission (CCC), together with all its major stakeholders, is set to review the Philippine’s energy policy in the next six months.

During the Clean Energy Forum in Pasig City on Thursday, CCC Vice Chairperson Emmanuel De Guzman said the policy review will commence on June 15.

CCC Vice Chair Emmanuel De Guzman talks about PH's efforts to reduce greenhouse gases in the @ACEF_Forum @gmanews pic.twitter.com/vAl6frEUDG

— Gerv Tacadena (@GTacadena) 9 June 2016

“We will address key issues including incentives, renewable energy. But clearly, this policy of the state to ensure sustainability of renewable energy resource managing,” De Guzman said

As chairperson of the commission, President Benigno Aquino III signed Commission Resolution No. 2016-001, which mandates the CCC to lead key government agencies in facilitating a national policy review and framework development energy through a whole-of-nation approach.

Under the resolution, agencies such as the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the Department of Energy (DOE) and the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) are urged to streamline policies and regulations to contribute to a low-carbon development.

“The CCC is also facilitating a whole-of-nation approach for the convergence and integration of efforts of all sectors and stakeholders to build resilience in our ecosystem, in local communities, in our key sectors such as agriculture, water and health,” De Guzman said.

He hopes that the approach will be able to mainstream climate actions across all sectors.

De Guzman stressed that, with the CCC’s commitment, the country can remain on track and on time in meeting its targets.

The Philippines participated in the United Nations' Conference of Parties last December, at which the Paris Agreement was initially drafted and agreed upon by 196 countries. The agreement outlines the framework for dealing with greenhouse gas emissions.

As its contribution, the Philippines pledged, through its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), to reduce greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions up to 70 percent by 2030.

However, despite this, the government approved the construction of 29 coal-fired power plants over the next decade.

The motion to an urgent and comprehensive review of the policy is to review this decision and cut down the country’s dependence on coal and to shift to sustainable methods.

Taking this into consideration, De Guzman challenged financial institutions to contribute to the eradication of what he called “old, archaic and antiquiated” technology of fossil-based fuel.

“There are still financial institutions funding coal power plant construction. What can we do to sensitize the financial leaders in the county to, once and for all, stop financing dirty fuel energy production and generation, and consider new technologies?” he posited.

De Guzman also shared some grassroots efforts done by the commission to call and push for climate actions to meet the country’s targets.

“We have also introduced a protocol for LGUs to do their own greenhouse gases accounting and we encourage the business sector and the private sector to do the same and we will have a database system whereby we have a national accounting of our greenhouse gas emmissions,” he said.

Last month, the CCC launched its consultation-workshop with LGUs in Davao City to craft strategies on how to integrate the country’s NDC to various development plans including the Philippine Development Plan, Philippine Energy Plan, Local Climate Change Action Plan and Comprehensive Development Plans.

“Because taking this development path may deliver a wide range of benefits in the country—health, social economic, environmnetal and resilience benefits—to the Filipino people who deserve a more secured future,” he concluded. — TJD, GMA News