Duterte signs energy efficiency, conservation law

MANILA, Philippines — President Duterte has signed into law the Energy Efficiency and Conservation (EE&C) Act, aimed at institutionalizing ways to conserve energy and making it a national way of life geared toward the efficient and judicious use of energy.

Duterte signed Republic Act 1128 on April 12, but it was officially released by the Office of the President yesterday.

The law aims to promote and encourage the development and utilization of efficient renewable energy technologies and systems to ensure optimal use and sustainability of the country’s energy resources.

It also aims to reinforce related laws and other statutory provisions for a comprehensive approach to energy efficiency, conservation, sufficiency and sustainability in the country.

When the measure was passed by the Senate and the House of Representatives in January, Department of Energy (DOE) officials welcomed it with much optimism – after almost three decades pending in Congress. The EE&C Act was first filed during the Eighth Congress in 1988.

The law aims to standardize energy efficiency and conservation measures in the country by regulating the use of energy-efficient technologies in buildings.

It provides for the Local Energy Efficiency and Conservation Plan as well as the inclusion of Energy Conserving Design on Buildings in the issuance of building permits.

An Interagency Energy Efficiency and Conservation Committee will also be created for the implementation of the Government Energy Management Program (GEMP), which aims to reduce government agencies’ consumption of electricity and petroleum products.

The act shall also establish a framework for introducing and institutionalizing fundamental policies on energy efficiency and conservation, including the promotion of efficient and judicious utilization of energy, increase in the utilization of energy efficient and renewable energy technologies and the delineation of responsibilities among various government agencies and private entities.

Under the new law, the DOE shall be the lead agency in the implementation of the law. It shall be responsible for the planning, formulation, development, implementation, enforcement and monitoring of energy management policies, and other-related energy efficiency and conservation plans and programs.

The DOE shall also spearhead the creation and update the development of the National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Plan (NEECP) in coordination with pertinent government agencies, local government units and private corporations.

It shall also develop a system of monitoring the implementation  of the NEECP and its targets.

The DOE is empowered to impose fines and penalties for any violation of the law and its implementing rules and regulations.