INTENSIVE DELIBERATION: Participants of the public consultations discussed the provisions of the proposed energy resiliency policy, particularly those concerning the power industry. The Mindanao-leg energy resiliency policy pubcon was held Tuesday (17 October 2017) at the N Hotel in Cagayan de Oro City.
(Cagayan de Oro City). The Department of Energy (DOE) conducted here Tuesday the Mindanao-leg of the energy resiliency policy public consultations in view of the region’s vulnerability to natural and human-induced disasters, such as the siege of Marawi City.
Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi said, “The policy will help guide the massive restoration and rehabilitation efforts of energy facilities in Marawi City, which must immediately commence as soon as the cessation of fighting in the city torn by the 5-month long military operation in the area.”
“We are fast-tracking the issuance and implementation of the energy resiliency policy as this would guide us, especially in rebuilding Marawi City,” Sec. Cusi said.
The DOE chose Cagayan de Oro City as venue for the third-leg of the consultations since the city serves as the gateway to Northern Mindanao and the people living in nearby areas are aware of the adverse effects of typhoons, floods and armed conflicts to their energy sources.
The energy resiliency policy, dubbed as the “Adoption of Resiliency Planning and Program in the Energy Industry to Mitigate Adverse Effects Brought About by Disasters,” is anchored on President Duterte’s directive to heighten disaster resilience.
Among others, the proposed policy seeks to strengthen the existing energy infrastructure and systems; institutionalize the “build back better” principle; improve existing disaster resilience operations; and develop resiliency practices, systems and standards.
“With this policy, we are building with the industry players a structure on how to plan and address human-induced disasters that compromise existing power facilities,” Sec. Cusi emphasized.
Other important issues discussed during the Mindanao-leg consultations include the improvement of information technology infrastructure, energy stakeholders’ involvement, sectoral guidelines, and determining the policy’s contribution to the overall strategy of the country towards disaster resilience, risk reduction and response.
The Mindanao-leg also reflected some of the views and suggestions from the Luzon and Visayas-leg of consultations, including the resiliency compliance plan and its timelines, the task force, regulatory support and monitoring, definition of terms, roles and responsibilities, costs and budgetary concerns, plans and roadmaps, among others.
In addition to the public consultations conducted, the DOE welcomes additional comments or recommendations of all concerned citizens on the proposed policy. For this purpose, the public may send until Friday, 20 October 2017 their insight through email: doe.eppb@doe.gov.ph. An electronic copy of the policy is downloadable at the DOE official website: www.doe.gov.ph.
“The issuance of this policy will cement the DOE’s commitment to mainstream disaster risk reduction to increase the reliability of our energy systems and reduce their vulnerability to disasters,” Sec. Cusi said.
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