DOE gears up for $300-M energy efficiency push in schools, hospitals
Department of Energy (DOE) facade. Images from DOE / INQUIRER FILES
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Energy (DOE) is eyeing to implement a package worth up to $300 million to support the rollout of rooftop solar systems and other energy efficiency efforts in public schools and hospitals.
Patrick Aquino, director at the DOE’s Energy Utilization Management Bureau, said the agency already secured the approval from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for the said loan facility.
The funding would support the five-year program, with the DOE serving as the implementing agency.
But the DOE still needs to obtain the government’s green light, particularly from the Department of Economy, Planning and Development (DepDev) and the Department of Finance (DOF).
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“The specifics are still for finalization… If it were to proceed, the capacities will contribute to the targets under the National Renewable Energy Program and compliance with the Government Energy Management Program,” Aquino said in a message to reporters.
Government wants to slash power usage by 10%
The Government Energy Management Program or GEMP seeks to reduce electricity and fuel usage by at least 10 percent. This is envisioned “through the efficient use and conservation of energy and fuel, among others.”
Under an executive order issued in 2024, government agencies are mandated to adopt low-cost energy efficiency and conservation measures. These include maintaining a temperature of 24 degrees Celsius in air-conditioned spaces.
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They are likewise mandated to conduct energy audits and submit an inventory of their existing energy-consuming equipment, along with upgrade timelines.
Meanwhile, the National Renewable Energy Program is designed to boost the adoption of clean power in the Philippines. The government wants to reduce reliance on coal for power generation.
The Marcos administration wants to scale up renewables’ contribution to the electricity generation mix to 35 percent by 2030. Currently, this is pegged at 22 percent.
