Push for energy efficiency bill continues

Implementing energy efficient practices from the household level to the office, manufacturing plants, and new building establishments is still the key for the country to become country competitive and  to continue its robust economic growth.

Undersecretary Loreta G. Ayson of the Department of Energy (DOE) gave this statement yesterday as the department continued to push for the approval of the Energy Efficiency Bill pending at Congress.

Ayson, who was one of the speakers of yesterday’s 2nd  Energy Efficiency Forum held at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Cebu, said that the DOE was making a few refinements in the bill.

“We have finished consultation with the private sectors from the household level to the industries. And we have presented it to the House Comittee on Energy as well as Senator (Teofisto) D. Guingona III in the senate level. We are hoping to pass the bill into law as soon as possible,” said Ayson.

The bill introduced during the last year’s Energy Efficiency Forum gives clear incentives on companies implementing energy efficiency in their workplaces as well as penalties on those who won’t implement green practices.

The incentives include tax holidays for export and import companies implementing the energy efficiency practices.

It also involves the setting up of the Standard and Labeling program of the DOE which will ensure that electrical equipment such as household appliances will be tested and given a proper standard and label.

Henry Schumacher, European Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines executive director, gave the chamber’s support to the DOE move.

Schumacher said that once made into law, the local government units could already start making local ordinances that would support the implementation of the law at their level.

“Municipalities are key to helping in the implementation and encouraging even educating the people about energy efficiency,” said Schumacher.

Philippe Reveilhac, Schneider Electric (Phils) Inc country president, said that awareness and practice of energy efficiency in the country could still improve.

Reveilhac noted the steady growth of the demand for energy efficient products in Cebu.

Schneider Electric is a firm providing their clients green energy solutions to their buildings./Reporter Aileen Garcia-Yap