CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The Department of Energy (DOE) conducted its second Information, Education and Communication (IEC) campaign for the academe on the implementation of the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) on 7 March 2019 at the University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines (USTSP).

The DOE-Electric Power Industry Management Bureau (EPIMB), in partnership with the DOE-Investment Promotion Office and the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), led the IEC for over 150 engineering and economics students of the USTSP.

DOE Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi said, “We are conducting these IECs to ensure that even students would have a working grasp of how energy policies such as the EPIRA impact their lives. Empowering them with the basics of the industry would deepen their appreciation of concepts like energy conservation and utilization, allowing them to contribute in their own little ways towards the attainment of our country’s energy goals.”

DOE-EPIMB’s Power Market Development Division Chief Luningning G. Baltazar led the IEC presentation on the overview of the Philippine power sector, which included discussions on sectoral reforms, power systems, government plans and programs, the magna carta for residential consumers, as well as energy conservation tips.

On the other hand, Engr. Nestor Padilla of the ERC talked about the components of unbundled electricity rates, as well as smart metering technology and its regulation.

One of the goals of the EPIRA law upon its enactment in 2001 was to stimulate competition in the energy industry to achieve reliable and reasonably priced power for consumers.

The next DOE IEC campaign will be held at the Capiz State University, Roxas City Campus.

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