Senator urges DOE to expedite submission of new energy roadmap
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Wednesday, January 3 called on the Department of Energy (DOE) to explain the continued delay in the submission of a new energy roadmap.
Gatchalian pointed out the DOE is supposed to submit to Congress an updated energy roadmap by September 15 of each year as mandated under Republic Act No. 9136, also known as the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA), but has yet to comply.
“The submission of the PEP (Philippine Energy Plan) is already more than three months overdue. The DOE needs to comply with this requirement immediately,” Gatchalian emphasized.
The PEP seeks to increase the use of renewable energy (RE) and come up with an energy mix towards a clean energy scenario.
The PEP is supposed to be “the foundation for achieving cleaner energy, promoting economic growth, and enhancing the well-being of our people,” according to Gatchalian.
“Hindi katanggap-tanggap na naantala na nang husto ang pinakahuling Energy Plan na napakaimportanteng dokumento para maisulong nang husto ang sapat at malinis na suplay ng enerhiya sa bansa (It is unacceptable that the most recent Energy Plan, which is a very important document, has been delayed so much to promote the adequate and clean supply of energy in the country),” the senator said.
The Philippines' current renewable energy goals are at 35 percent by 2030 and 50 percent by 2040.
As per the DOE, the proposed new energy roadmap will now include nuclear energy in the power mix under a clean energy scenario.