Aquino to businessmen: Nothing to fear of additional authority

President Benigno S. Aquino III. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—President Benigno Aquino III on Tuesday assured reportedly worried businessmen that the additional authority he is asking for will only address the country’s looming energy shortfall.

“I am aware that investors in the energy sector are worried about these measures distorting the market, but let me assure you: Government intervention is meant only to address the shortage,” Aquino said during the Energy Smart Philippines 2014 held in Pasay City.

“The sole goal of this initiative is to make sure our economy does not lose its momentum in the event of an energy shortage,” he explained.

Aquino gave his speech more than two weeks after he had asked Congress for additional authority to contract generating capacity amid looming power shortage in the summer of 2015.

Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho Petilla had told Congress they expect a shortage of around 300 megawatts to 800 megawatts.

The President explained that the government’s goal was to have reliable power, “preferably clean and reasonably priced.”

However, he admitted this was easier said than done, requiring the “balancing of multiple priorities” as the economy grows and demand for energy soars.

“Such a situation necessitates steps to ensure energy supply if a shortfall does arise, which is why we have asked Congress for a joint resolution authorizing the national government to contract additional generating capacity,” he said.

During the last Senate hearing on the joint resolution, business groups expressed their preference for the Interruptible Load Program (ILP), which sources additional energy from the extra power produced by generating sets of private companies.

Climate change

In his message, Aquino recalled his recent visit to the United States where he gave a speech before the United Nations Climate Summit.

“I spoke of our country’s experience with the new normal caused by climate change, about how countries like ours, despite being less industrialized, bear a disproportionate amount of the burden,” he said.

He said the energy sector was a key component in the country’s growth.

Despite being a developing country seeking to bolster its industrialization, Aquino said the Philippines aims to further lower its carbon emissions.

Saying that his administration remains committed to the country’s renewable energy program, he enumerated related projects, including the San Carlos Solar Energy Facility.

“We are looking to incentivize the entry of around 450 more megawatts of solar power, with the Department of Energy (DOE) endorsing to the Energy Regulatory Commission the expansion of the installation target for solar power under the Feed-in-Tariff System,” he said.

Other programs involve the distribution of compact fluorescent lamps and the promotion of e-tricycles, which is being spearheaded by the Department of Energy.

“Right now, the DOE is in the process of procuring 3,000 e-tricycles, which we expect to be completed by next year. This will be the first step towards our goal of replacing 100,000 gas-fueled tricycles with electric ones, which will reduce our carbon footprint further, as well as our dependence on oil,” he said.

Among those exhibited at the event is a sample of the e-jeepney, which already had its test run from SM North Edsa to Katipunan.

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Originally posted: 10:55 am | Tuesday, September 30th, 2014