PASAY CITY – The Energy Efficiency and Conservation (EE&C) Act was finally approved yesterday (16 January) during the Bicameral Conference Committee Hearing held at the Senate of the Philippines.
The EE&C Act was first filed during the 8th Congress in1988, and has been repeatedly filed in every Congress since then.
The signing was led by Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Energy and Chairperson of the House Committee on Energy, Congressman Lord Allan Velasco, and was witnessed by officials of the Department of Energy (DOE).
The Act aims to standardize energy efficiency and conservation measures in the country by regulating the use of energy efficient technologies in buildings.
It provides for the Local Energy Efficiency and Conservation Plan, as well as the inclusion of Energy Conserving Design on Buildings in the issuance of building permits.
An Interagency Energy Efficiency and Conservation Committee will also be created for the implementation of the Government Energy Management Program (GEMP), which aims to reduce government agencies' consumption of electricity and petroleum products.
Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi said, "We are extremely pleased to welcome this long-awaited milestone in the first month of 2019. The DOE has anticipated the passage of the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act for a very long time. The initial iterations of this Act goes back to the 8th Congress. We are grateful for the support we garnered from both chambers of Congress. The ball is now in our court with the implementation of this Act, and we look forward to the holistic efficient use of our energy sources.”
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