TAGUIG CITY – The energy family, led by Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi, gathers today to launch the celebrations for the 2019 National Energy Consciousness Month and the DOE’s 47th Anniversary at the agency’s headquarters.
“Upholding the welfare of Filipino consumers is one of the core foundations of President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s administration. Time and again, the President has impressed upon us that the true spirit of public service lies in the ability of government to faithfully espouse and protect the best interests of our people. For the past three years, the energy family has been striving very hard to emulate this kind of service leadership through strategies, policies, and programs that anticipate and effectively respond to the energy needs of our countrymen,” the Energy Chief said.
Anchored on the theme “Advancing Consumer Protection through Responsive and Proactive Energy Regulations”, this year’s celebration underscores the importance of having consumer wellbeing as the centerpiece of the energy family’s strategic direction towards securing the country’s energy future. It commemorates strides made to strengthen consumer welfare through various policies and programs, as well as an inspirational call to the entire energy industry to continue championing consumer interest in the years ahead.
A press conference was held at the DOE-Audio Visual Room after the joint flag raising ceremony and Eucharistic celebration held earlier this morning.
In his message, the Energy Secretary gave a brief rundown of some of the DOE’s milestones for 2019. These include policies and programs on energy security, such as the Philippine Conventional Energy Contracting Program and the finalization of the Department Circular on the General Framework for Ancillary Services; the Department Order allowing the direct remittance of financial benefits to all hosts of power generation and energy resource development projects, amendments to the Qualified Third Party Program, and upholding the timely conduct of the Competitive Selection Process as upheld by the Supreme Court in pursuit of energy equity; continued activities relative to the Renewable Portfolio Standards Rules, Green Energy Option Program, and the Renewable Energy Trust Fund, the formulation of the National Renewable Energy Program 2020-2040, Renewable Energy Market Rules, Green Energy Pricing Program, and the issuance of the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) for the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act to help attain energy sustainability; and other policy mechanisms promoting service excellence throughout the DOE and the entire energy industry, such as the continued streamlining of Departmental processes, the issuance of the IRRs for the Energy Virtual One-Stop Shop, the Omnibus Guidelines Governing the Award and Administration of Renewable Energy Contracts and the Registration of Renewable Energy Developers, and the recent directive of the Secretary for all DOE officials to act upon all pending matters by 20 December 2019.
Joining Secretary Cusi are the Heads of the Philippine National Oil Company, Philippine National Oil Company - Exploration Corporation, National Electrification Administration, National Power Corporation, National Transmission Corporation, and the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corporation, who also discussed their respective agencies’ NECM acitivities and accomplishments for the year.
“The great responsibility of providing our people with nothing less than quality, reliable, stable, secure, sustainable, and affordable energy lies in our hands. We must stand united in helping the government realize its vision of securing a brighter and comfortable life for each and every Filipino,” Secretary Cusi concluded.
Both the NECM and the Department’s anniversary are observed every December, under Proclamation No. 1427 signed by then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on 11 December 2007.
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