Gov’t urged to speed up implementation of renewable energy act

Aurora Rep. Juan Edgardo Angara and Eastern Samar Rep. Ben Evardone tell reporters during a press briefing that the government needs to hasten the enforcement of its renewable energy act.

MANILA, Philippines — Lawmakers on Tuesday urged the government to hasten the implementation of its renewable energy act soon, saying that it could provide relief to rotating brownouts being experienced in the country.

Aurora Representative Juan Edgardo Angara and Eastern Samar Representative Ben Evardone said that the renewable energy act, presently at the Energy Regulatory Commission for discussions on its feed-in-tariff (FIT) rates, should be implemented as the country was being left out by other nations who have taken on renewable energy programs.

The lawmakers lamented that the renewable energy act was tackled back in the 14th Congress but has yet to be enforced.

They said that renewable energy should not be limited to coal despite the advent of new coal technology since small communities were likely to be left behind.

Questions on solar energy could also be pushed aside for discussions on geothermal or hydropower instead, said Angara who thought that controversies over solar energy were “holding up the issue.”

Angara and Evardone admitted that consumers will still pay for creation of renewable energy but maintained that it will not be much.

“Don’t forget that the cost of renewable energy decreases as technology advances,” Angara said.

But Evardone saw the “real debate” over the issue of renewable energy was between existing power producers and the proponents of renewable energy, saying that the former were barring alternative energy in order to protect their interests.

“Matagal na (itong pinag-uusapan). Nasa 14th Congress pa matagal na kaming naghihearing sa [Energy Regulatory Commission] e (This was taken up a long time ago. We have been holding public hearings at the Energy Regulatory Commission even during the 14^th Congress) ,” Evardone said.