Despite repetitive cycle of power supply shortfalls during summer months, the Department of Energy (DOE) indicated that it is still pushing for the country’s energy transition pathway that will give preferential bias to clean energy resource developments.

The DoE said it will be joining the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Japan on their more aggressive call for countries in the region to transform energy systems on to a less-carbon future

Energy Undersecretary Jesus P. Posadas sounded off during a special meeting of the ASEAN Ministers on Energy Meeting-Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan (AMEM-METI) that “the Philippines has been carefully recalibrating the country’s energy policies and measures to ensure a just energy transition.”

The energy official primarily cited that the updating of the Philippine Energy Plan (PEP) – that will stretch until 2040 - had been calculatedly aligned with the country’s clean energy scenario (CES) targets.

Posadas expounded that “the CES builds on existing policies,” but it will ratchet up installations of clean energy technologies, primarily on targeted projects under the National Renewable Energy Plan.

The energy department said it will be concretizing multi-pronged clean energy technology build-ups under the CES -- and these shall cover ventures not just in the RE space, but also on energy efficiency technologies and measures as well as accelerate the implementation of mandated biofuel percentages.

In the RE sector, the Philippines is aiming to massively integrate RE into its energy mix – and the next round of installations shall be underpinned by Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS), Green Energy Option Program (GEOP) and the net metering mechanism.

On biofuels, there are proposals to increase the blend for biodiesel to 5.0-percent from currently at 2.0-percent, but this is still pending for approval of the DOE.

Energy efficiency is another investment sphere that the DOE is aggressively advancing, as this help address both the country’s aim for energy security as well as on the all-inclusive goal of taming carbon footprints.

According to the DoE, the recent special AMEM-METI meeting “served as the platform for Japan to discuss its proposal for a new initiative to support realistic energy transitions in Asia.”

The energy official noted that the AMEM, in particular, sets “political guidance and directions in the development and implementation of key energy sector priority initiatives and work programs that are consistent with the directives of heads of states/governments of ASEAN.”