DOE Backs UN Energy Agenda in Bangkok Meet

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The Philippines expressed full support for the United Nation’s (UN) energy thrusts that run parallel with the country’s own agenda such as ensuring energy security, promoting a low carbon future, achieving total electrification and improving energy efficiency.

Representing Secretary Alfonso Cusi of the Department of Energy (DOE), Undersecretary Jesus Cristino Posadas led Philippine energy sector delegates in the recent meeting of the newly established Committee on Energy of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP).

Posadas told the meeting held in at the United Nations Conference Center (UNCC) in Bangkok, Thailand that the Philippines also backs the restructuring of the commission including the establishment of an energy committee.

The DOE official led high-ranking delegates as Chairperson and topic discussions Moderator of the session on "Energy Transition and Achieving Sustainable Development Goals.”

He emphasized the need for regional energy cooperation and interconnectivity to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7: “Affordable and Clean Energy.”

SGD 7 is geared towards ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all.

Posadas also underscored the need to strengthen the resiliency of energy infrastructures in the Asia-Pacific region, stressing it as a “key priority area” for regional cooperation especially in the face of the intensifying effects of climate change.

“The Philippines would like to propose for the consideration of this Committee, an emergent priority initiative to develop and strengthen energy infrastructure resiliency in the Asia and the Pacific region,” Posadas told the meeting.

The Philippine initiative pushed by Posadas was strongly supported by other international contingents and was positively acknowledged by the Energy committee.

On the subject of power infrastructure connectivity within Asia and the Pacific region, Usec. Posadas clarified that “we do not refer only to the physical power transmission network or the gas or oil pipeline, but also the information and communications network, both its software and hardware.”

“This is an enabler of the development of electricity spot markets and smart communications technology which makes possible the two-way flow of electricity,” he added.

International organizations and governments of the member states, including the Philippines, arranged exhibit booths highlighting the Philippine’s hosting of ASEAN 2017.

HIGH LEVEL MEET: DOE Undersecretary Jesus Cristino P. Posadas (2nd from right) who led the Philippine energy sector’s delegation, discussed the country’s energy infrastructure resiliency agenda before the First Session of the UNESCAP Committee on Energy last 17 January in Bangkok, Thailand. In photo are members of the DOE delegation: (from left) DOE-Investment Promotion Office Supervising Investment Specialist Hazel O. Vicencio, DOE- Energy Policy and Planning Bureau (EPPB) Science Research Specialist Michael S. Leabres, Usec. Jesus Cristino P. Posadas and DOE-EPPB Director Jesus T. Tamang. (Photo courtesy of the Phil. Embassy in Bangkok)