BROTHERHOOD: As part of current resiliency efforts in the energy sector, linemen of electric cooperatives come together through the Task Force Kapatid (TFK) to help affected colleagues to immediately restore impaired power facilities. The draft energy resiliency policy looks at available resiliency models to improve existing operational and maintenance procedures and practices in the sector.

(Taguig City). Acknowledging that disasters adversely affect the economy, environment and the people, the Department of Energy (DOE) today vowed to pursue a policy towards a resilient energy sector.

“Being one of the most vulnerable countries to disasters, the Philippines needs to ensure that our energy systems are disaster-resilient and that resiliency is an integral component of our policies and programs,” Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said.

“The policy is a priority of the DOE following President Duterte’s pronouncements to improve the disaster preparedness and resiliency of the country,” Cusi explained.

“The policy requires all the energy players to put upfront the mainstreaming of disaster risk reduction programs into planning and investment to ensure the continuous delivery and strengthening of the existing energy infrastructure,” Cusi pointed out.

In June, President Duterte signed Executive Order No. 29 which renamed the National Disaster Consciousness Month to National Disaster Resiliency Month to emphasize the shift of focus from disaster awareness building to disaster resilience.

The “Adoption of Resiliency Planning and Program in the Energy Industry to Mitigate Adverse Effects Brought About by Disasters” policy has four guiding principles:

1. Acknowledge the need to strengthen the existing energy infrastructure, facilities and systems to prepare/mitigate the impacts of disasters;

2. Implement the build back better principle in terms of reconstruction and rehabilitations of damaged infrastructure;

3. Improve existing operational, maintenance and procedures to ensure continuous operations and energy supply; and

4. Develop resiliency practices, systems and standards that will be used as basis in future construction of energy facilities.

In line with this thrust, the DOE will conduct a series of public consultations on energy resiliency policy starting on 10 October 2017 in Batangas.

This initial consultation will be followed by two other meetings in Leyte and Cagayan de Oro on 13 and 17 October, respectively.

For more information, the public may download a copy of the draft resiliency policy on the DOE's Official website: www.doe.gov.ph.

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