The Department of Energy (DOE) welcomes the signing of Administrative Order (AO) No. 15 which directs the accelerated implementation of the Government Energy Management Program (GEMP).
AO 15 highlights the implementation of Republic Act No. 11285 or the Energy Efficiency and Conservation (EEC) Act in all government entities under the executive branch, including government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs), government financial institutions (GFIs), their subsidiaries, and state universities and colleges (SUCs).
“The President wants the entire government to embrace energy conservation measures. AO 15 will intensify our efficient utilization and conservation efforts in the use of electricity and fuel to help mitigate energy demand, especially with the onset of El Niño,” Energy Secretary Raphael P. M. Lotilla said. “It advocates a shift to a sustainable energy lifestyle with government setting a strong example,” he added.
The GEMP implementation is guided by the Inter-Agency Energy Efficiency and Conservation Committee (IAEECC) created under the EEC Act. It aims to reduce the whole government’s electricity and fuel consumption by at least 10% through energy efficiency and conservation (EEC) strategies.
IAEECC is tasked to prepare an annual assessment of opportunities for energy cost reduction in all government instrumentalities and mandating the adoption of energy-efficient measures and technologies.
In 2023, with the institutionalization of GEMP, the government reached a total electricity savings of more than PhP300 million or an equivalent of over 30 million kWh and more than PhP25 million fuel savings or an equivalent of 386,083.59 liters of fuel, the DOE today said. These savings are the result of 1,210 audited government offices out of the estimated 8,000 total entities identified. The accelerated implementation of GEMP under AO 15 is estimated to result in up to nearly PhP2 billion in savings for both electricity and fuel, based on the average savings from 2023.
Specifically, AO 15 directs the conduct of energy audits, submission of inventory of existing energy consuming equipment, and timelines for upgrading to more energy efficient equivalents, ensuring compliance with the DOE guidelines on energy conserving design for buildings and the Philippine Green Building Code for new building construction and building retrofits, and adopting low-cost EEC measures by maintaining ambient temperature of 24°C in airconditioned spaces, turning off unused lights and air-conditioning units, and activating sleep settings on office equipment.
AO 15 also institutionalizes the designation of an EEC Officer and Focal Persons in each government entities, compliance with the DOE-GEMP Online System, preparation of the EEC programs, and allocation of appropriate amount for the implementation of planned energy management program. The DOE-GEMP Online System is an online submission platform of vehicles, appliances and lighting inventories, and monthly electricity and fuel consumption.
The DOE is expected to release the implementing guidelines of the AO within 30 days from the effectivity of the Order. ###
