MANILA: Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Wednesday asked the Department of Energy (DOE) to explain the delay in submitting a new energy roadmap to Congress and urged the agency to do so promptly.
The country’s Philippine Energy Plan (PEP), which extends up to 2050, seeks to increase the use of renewable energy and come up with an energy mix towards a clean energy scenario.
‘The Philippine Energy Plan will be the foundation for achieving cleaner energy, promoting economic growth, and enhancing the well-being of our people,’ Gatchalian in a statement.
According to the senator, the DOE is supposed to submit to Congress an updated energy roadmap by Sept. 15 of each year as mandated under Republic Act 9136, also known as the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA).
‘The submission of the PEP is already more than three months overdue. The DOE needs to comply with this requirement immediately,’ Gatchalian said.
The Philippines’ current renewable energy goals are at 35 percent by 2030 and 50 percent by 2040.
‘H
indi katanggap-tanggap na naantala na nang husto ang pinakahuling Energy Plan na napakaimportanteng dokumento para maisulong nang husto ang sapat at malinis na suplay ng enerhiya sa bansa (It is unacceptable that the latest Energy Plan, which is a very important document to significantly promote adequate and clean energy supply in the country, has been delayed so much),’ he added.
As per the DOE, the PEP is a comprehensive roadmap for the energy sector, ensuring sustainable, stable, secure, sufficient, accessible, and reasonably-priced energy.
Source: Philippines News Agency