Senate to probe DOE’s energy security strategy

The Senate Committee on Energy is set to take an in-depth look into the Department of Energy’s (DOE) strategy to ensure energy security and self-sufficiency amid soaring global oil prices.

Senator Win Gatchalian has filed Resolution No. 916, which tasked the Committee on Energy to scrutinize DOE’s national strategy in ensuring a continuous, adequate, and economic supply of energy “with the end in view of achieving self-reliance in the country’s energy requirements.”

Gatchalian is the chairman of Senate Committee on Energy.

The senator, in a statement Tuesday, stressed the need for energy security to alleviate the economic suffering of Filipinos due to volatile global oil price movements.

“The need for energy security is further emphasized by the fact that the country imports 44.7 percent of its total primary energy supply, exposing it to price volatility in the world market,” the senator said.

He noted that diesel and gasoline prices have gone up by as much as P5.45 and P6.30, respectively, from July 25, 2018 prices.

Gatchalian said these rising prices have been exacerbated by the fuel excise tax imposed under the TRAIN Law (Republic Act No. 10963).

The senator also highlighted that the recent rounds of oil price hikes have contributed to the country’s climbing inflation rate, which hit a nine-year high at 6.7 percent in September 2018.

READ: Inflation hits new over 9-year high of 6.7% in September on elevated food prices

In his resolution, Gatchalian also mentioned that DOE is the agency mandated to carry out the policy of energy self-reliance and self-sufficiency through integrated and intensive exploration, production, management, and development of indigenous energy resources; and to rationalize, integrate, and coordinate the various programs of the government towards self-sufficiency.

“DOE has committed to implement measures to mitigate the effects of continuous price increase in the world market, and to oversee the proper implementation of TRAIN, in so far as taxes on petroleum products are concerned,” Gatchalian said.

“Despite these efforts, it is necessary to be apprised of DOE’s strategic framework to achieve energy security and energy self-sufficiency to prevent similar situations from arising in the future,” he added. /muf