Bicam approves Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act

This picture taken on August 3, 2018 shows steam coming out from cooling towers of the Maibarara Geothermal plant in Santo Tomas, Batangas, south of Manila. A surge of new exploration efforts for geothermal power are underway in a nation that has some of the world’s largest untapped sources of volcanic heat, but which relies on coal for half its electricity. / AFP / Noel Celis/

(Eagle News) — A measure seeking to institutionalize a framework to advance energy efficiency and conservation practices in the country has hurdled the bicameral conference committee.

In a statement, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, chair of the Senate committee on energy, said the approval of the reconciled version of Senate Bill No. 1531 and House Bill No. 8629, or the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act, is “quite timely, especially at a time when the Philippines is experiencing sustained economic growth over past years.”

“This bill is quite important in terms of growing our economy because we all know we need a lot of power supply in the next few years, but the power supply will not come in as a form of physical plants, that power supply can come in the form of savings. Dahil kung nagse-save po tayo, hindi na rin nating kailangan magtayo ng bagong planta,” Gatchalian, principal sponsor of the measure in the Senate, said.

Under the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act,  a National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Plan that “defines national targets, details feasible strategies, and imposes a regular monitoring and evaluation system” will be put in place.

A National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Database, which will store “relevant information about energy consumption as well as the application of energy efficient and renewable energy technologies” shall also be put in place if the law is passed.

The measure also allows for the creation of a Local Energy Efficiency and Conservation Plan and the inclusion of Guidelines on Energy Conserving Design on Buildings in the issuance of building permits.

“Energy efficiency and conservation strategies will not only achieve much needed savings for the government, but it can also significantly bring down the prices of electricity and give consumers extra money in their pockets to spend for other basic necessities,” Gatchalian said.