Proposed laws seek to promote renewable energy
Business World, Tuesday, January 4, 2005
Lawmakers are currently studying three proposed laws which seek to promote and develop the country's renewable energy sources.
Rep. Alipio V. Badelles, chairman of the House of Representatives panel of the Joint Congressional Power Commission (JCPC), said the measures aim to help the county achieve energy independence and self-sufficiency.
Being considered are bills on new and renewable energy, mandatory ethanol blending, and natural gas.
Mr. Badelles said the high cost of electricity in the country can be attributed to the fact that 46% of the fuels used for generating electricity comprises imported coal and oil.
"The cost of generating electricity will be reckoned in terms of the volatility of the dollar-peso exchange rate ... additionally, we are disadvantaged because we are competing with the economies of China and India that are importing energy fuel in huge quantities, paying premium prices to insure stable supply," he said.
He said Congress has been attempting to make into law the promotion and development of alternative energy sources, with the filing of the first bill, titled "An Act to Strengthen the National Program for the Development and Promotion of Non-Conventional Energy Systems," in 1990.
Mr. Badelles said he has authored House Bill 1068, or "An Act to Promote the Development, Utilization and Commercialization of Renewable Energy Sources", which aims to set an institutional framework and infrastructure to encourage the commercial application and development of indigenous energy resources.
He said there is also a need to rationalize the tax system between imported fuel and indigenous fuel, adding that a bill on mandatory ethanol blending will not only benefit the ailing sugar industry but also help bring fuel prices.
Mr. Badelles also expressed optimism that a bill on natural gas will finally pass muster since it was already approved during the last Congress.
Energy Sec. Vincent S. Perez, Jr. has said the country is stepping up oil and gas exploration in a bid to maximize the use domestic energy sources. The government is also pursuing initiatives to explore and develop the country's renewable energy sources. Last year, the state-run Development Bank of the Philippines said it has set aside some P50 billion in loans to finance renewable energy projects.
"We need to discover another Malampaya if we want to achieve 60% self-sufficiency in energy by 2010," Mr. Perez said.
Lawmakers are currently studying three proposed laws which seek to promote and develop the country's renewable energy sources.
Rep. Alipio V. Badelles, chairman of the House of Representatives panel of the Joint Congressional Power Commission (JCPC), said the measures aim to help the county achieve energy independence and self-sufficiency.
Being considered are bills on new and renewable energy, mandatory ethanol blending, and natural gas.
Mr. Badelles said the high cost of electricity in the country can be attributed to the fact that 46% of the fuels used for generating electricity comprises imported coal and oil.
"The cost of generating electricity will be reckoned in terms of the volatility of the dollar-peso exchange rate ... additionally, we are disadvantaged because we are competing with the economies of China and India that are importing energy fuel in huge quantities, paying premium prices to insure stable supply," he said.
He said Congress has been attempting to make into law the promotion and development of alternative energy sources, with the filing of the first bill, titled "An Act to Strengthen the National Program for the Development and Promotion of Non-Conventional Energy Systems," in 1990.
Mr. Badelles said he has authored House Bill 1068, or "An Act to Promote the Development, Utilization and Commercialization of Renewable Energy Sources", which aims to set an institutional framework and infrastructure to encourage the commercial application and development of indigenous energy resources.
He said there is also a need to rationalize the tax system between imported fuel and indigenous fuel, adding that a bill on mandatory ethanol blending will not only benefit the ailing sugar industry but also help bring fuel prices.
Mr. Badelles also expressed optimism that a bill on natural gas will finally pass muster since it was already approved during the last Congress.
Energy Sec. Vincent S. Perez, Jr. has said the country is stepping up oil and gas exploration in a bid to maximize the use domestic energy sources. The government is also pursuing initiatives to explore and develop the country's renewable energy sources. Last year, the state-run Development Bank of the Philippines said it has set aside some P50 billion in loans to finance renewable energy projects.
"We need to discover another Malampaya if we want to achieve 60% self-sufficiency in energy by 2010," Mr. Perez said.
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