As RP implements its RE Law
GREEN JOBS FROM CLEAN ENERGY INITIATIVES
WILL BE FULFILLED - ANGARA

Senator Edgardo J. Angara today said our efforts towards promoting alternative sources of energy will lead not only to energy independence but also to job generation as well which is equally important as Filipino households will feel the brunt of the Global Financial Crisis this year.

"We have taken our step farther in terms of energy independence by instituting a Renewable Energy (RE) policy which has one of the most attractive and most competitive incentive provisions in the world. We have examined different RE policies enacted by different countries and have combined all their best practices to craft own RE policy," said Angara who is the principal sponsor of the RE bill.

He added, "By enacting an RE policy, we can be sure that this milestone legislation would jumpstart our efforts toward energy security. An not only that, we can also provide jobs in the countryside as we switch to clean energy initiatives."

Recently, International Labour Organization (ILO), the International Organization of Employers and the International Trade Union Confederation (Ituc) and UN Environment Programme (Unep) released a new report entitled "Green Jobs: Toward Decent Work in a Sustainable, Low-Carbon World" wherein it was noted that "investments resulting from efforts to reduce climate change and its effects are already generating new jobs."

The report cited Germany's experience wherein the number of jobs in the renewable-energy sector rose from 66,600 in 1998 to 259,100 in 2006.

Globally, the Renewable Energy sector employs 2.3 million people - many of which are from developing countries like China and Brazil. Estimates, from the report, showed that more than 20 million people will be employed by the renewable-energy sector in 2030.

Each year the Philippines import 94% of its crude oil needs. Meanwhile, the country's oil consumption is projected to rise by more than 10% in the next decade. The country's 2006 net oil imports (crude and petroleum product imports less petroleum exports) went up to 20 percent to $6.8 billion funds which could otherwise have been spent on public services funds such as schools and hospitals. The high cost of imported fuel also translates to high power prices which are passed on to consumers.

According to the study made by the Renewable Energy Coalition, if the country saves even half of its net oil imports, it can use this amount for social and infrastructure programs such as: sending 17 million children to elementary school, building 250,000 classrooms, putting up 135,000 health centers, feeding 14 million families, and building 38,000 farm-to-market roads.

Another study by the University of the Philippines which was commissioned by World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), by increasing the country's share of indigenous renewable energy in its power generation mix to 41% the country can save as much as US$2.9 Billion from avoided fossil fuel imports.

Angara also noted RP's vast alternative energy sources citing a Department of Energy (DOE) study.

The country's resource potential for geothermal energy is 4,531 MW; hydro at 13,097 MW; biomass at 277 MMBFOE; solar at 5.0-5.1 kWh/m2/day; wind at 76,600 MW; and ocean at 170,000 MW.

"The green lights of RE opportunities are beaming towards the developing countries side. RE will spur economic growth in rural areas by providing employment opportunities and bringing in investments which is much needed especially in this tough time of financial crisis," Angara added.