Senator Sherwin Gatchalian has sought an additional P46-million to augment the Department of Energy’s (DOE) proposed budget for next year to fund studies on new technologies that would maximize the use of indigenous resources to help lower the cost of energy in the country.
(Senate of the Philippines / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
Gatchalian, who chairs the Senate Committee on Energy, said the additional fund would assist the DOE in looking for potential sources of electricity to lower the cost of energy in the Philippines.
“We have to invest on research to explore the potentials of emerging energy sources. The outcome of which will have a lasting impact in our daily lives and will save us money in the long run,” Gatchalian said in a statement.
According to the senator, P20-million would be allotted for energy transition study, P20-million for a comprehensive roadmap for electric vehicles (EVs) and P6-million for prospects of energy generation through waste-to-energy (WTE) facilities.
“With the exponential decrease in the price of renewable energy and battery storage and 10 more years before our 2030 Paris Agreement commitments, it is paramount for the DOE to start studying scenarios on how to achieve a holistic energy transition in the Philippines towards a decentralized, digitalized and decarbonized energy system without sacrificing energy security and affordability,” he said.
The senator further said the conduct of study on energy transition should have a whole industry and government approach to cover all types of energy utilized in all sectors – agriculture, fisheries and forestry, commercial and industrial, residential and transportation.
He also said allocating funds to study the drafting of a comprehensive roadmap for EVs is in line with the mandate of the DOE under Republic Act No. 7638.
The lawmaker said EVs have the potential to reduce the country’s oil import dependence and greenhouse gas emissions arising from transport.
“As such, it is crucial to equip DOE with the resources to prepare a comprehensive program for the roll-out of electric vehicles in the country,” he stressed.
Gatchalian earlier filed Senate Bill no. 1789, which seeks to tap the use of waste as a feedstock for energy generation. He also filed Senate Bill No. 1382, or the proposed Electric Vehicles and Charging Stations Act which seeks a comprehensive roadmap for EVs.
“The WTE remains a largely untapped local energy resource. Allocating a budget for DOE to assess the potential of WTE in the country would be the first step in maximizing this local indigenous energy resource,” he said.
The lawmaker also said the existence of WTE facilities can significantly contribute in solving the garbage problem in the country and at the same time, contribute to the country’s energy security by having these connected to the grid.