.ASEAN Told: PHL On Track With Cheap, Secure Energy Initiatives

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The Duterte Administration is working doubly hard to provide Filipinos affordable, reliable, secure and environmentally friendly power, the Department of Energy (DOE) reported to the ASEAN member nations.

The DOE issued the update when it hosted the 16th Annual Meeting of the Regional Energy Policy and Planning–Sub-Sector Network (REPP-SSN) recently at the Sofitel Hotel in Pasay City.

The event served as the Third Sub-Sector Network meeting by the DOE in line with the country’s hosting of the last ASEAN Forum.

The other two conferences were the Civilian Nuclear Energy (CNE) held last 19 April and the Energy Efficiency and Conservation (EE&C) held last 5 May.

DOE Undersecretary Jesus Posadas in the meeting said that the DOE under Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi has taken decisive steps in line with the Duterte Administration’s energy objectives and directions for the years 2016 to 2030.

Designated in the DOE as the Senior Official on Energy, Posadas said the thrust is to “ensure energy supply security, improve access to adequate and affordable energy products and services and working towards a low carbon future.”

The Philippines emphasized to the other ASEAN Member Countries the need for regional energy cooperation.

“We will improve the reliability, availability and resiliency of energy infrastructures and facilities, promote technology innovation through research, development, demonstration, deployment and encourage investments in infrastructure development,” said Posadas.

“The DOE will facilitate the build-up of an appropriate portfolio of installed and dependable energy capacities, anchored on a technology-neutral policy, especially for the power sector, for base load, mid-merit and peaking requirements to support our growing economy,” he added.

The 16th REPP-SSN meeting primarily tackled program updates in the ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation (APAEC) which are the ASEAN Power Grid, Trans-ASEAN Gas Pipeline, Coal and Clean Coal Technology, Energy Efficiency and Conservation, Renewable Energy, Regional Energy Policy and Planning and Civilian Nuclear Energy.

Those in attendance were updated on the status of energy-related engagements of ASEAN with various dialogue partners and international organizations.

The meeting output which includes refinements to current APAEC program areas and the REPP-SSN’s work program will be presented during the Senior Officials on Energy Meeting (SOME) in July 2017.

Currently chaired by Singapore, the REPP-SSN serves as the venue for monitoring the deliverables under the APAEC. It is also a place for countries to offer suggestions to address energy challenges for the region.

Moreover, the APAEC is the blueprint for better cooperation towards enhancing energy security, accessibility, affordability and sustainability under the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) framework.

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