EE&C READY VISAYAS: Forum participants gather for a photo at the successful conclusion of the EE&C Forum for Local Development in Visayas held at the Bai Hotel in Cebu City from 28-29 February 2020.
MANDAUE CITY, CEBU- The Department of Energy (DOE), through the support of the Access to Sustainable Energy Programme (ASEP) of the Energy Union (EU) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB), led the two-day (27-28 February) Energy Efficiency and Conservation (EE&C) Forum for Local Government Units (LGUs) in Visayas at the Bai Hotel.
The ASEP-Clean Energy Living Laboratories project through ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability Southeast Asia Secretariat also contributed in organizing the forum.
Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi said, “The EE&C Act is one of the priority programs of the Department for our country’s energy sustainability. With LGUs playing a crucial role in the law's successful implementation, forums like these are important, as they equip our local governments with the information that would help them establish EE&C as a way of life for all Filipinos."
Signed by President Rodrigo Duterte in April 2019, the EE&C Law, otherwise known as Republic Act No. 11285, and its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) seek to secure the country’s energy supply by making EE&C a national way of life.
DOE-Energy Utilization Management Bureau Director Patrick T. Aquino shared the key features of the EE&C law and its IRR, including a brief rundown of the DOE’s programs that would help local communities reduce the consumption of electricity through conservation measures.
The EE&C Law also aims to promote LGU participation in EE initiatives by requiring them to develop and facilitate local energy management programs, directing Government Financial Institutions to offer concessional financing packages and providing incentives through the Local Investment Incentives Plan.
Speakers from private and public agencies also delivered comprehensive presentations on Local EE&C Plans, Public Building EE Upgrades, and Financing Options for EE Projects.
As one of the advocacies of the EE&C Law in promoting green projects, a site visit and walk-through in Mandani Bay was also conducted during the second day of the forum.
The Mandani Bay is the first building to be constructed in Mandaue that passed the green building criteria. During the visit, Mandani Bay officials shared their best EE&C practices, which encouraged the LGUs to champion more green projects in the city.
"We thank our partners from the DOE, ADB, and EU ASEP-Clean Energy Living Laboratories project through Local Government for Sustainability-South East Asia Secretariat for their collective efforts in promoting energy efficiency. This will certainly bring EE&C into a higher and broader perspective that will improve the quality of life of the people," ASEP Technical Assistance Team Leader Douglas Liner in his closing remarks.
Also present in the event were the officials from DOE-Visayas Field Office, representatives from Cenro City Government of Mandaue, Board of Investment, Department of Science and Technology, Department of Public Works and Highways, University of San Carlos Center for Research in Energy Systems and Technologies, Development Bank of the Philippines, and Clean Energy Investment Accelerator.
An EE&C Mindanao Forum is scheduled to take place from 18-19 March 2020.
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