PHL LAGGING BEHIND IN RENEWABLE ENERGY DEV'T - ANGARA

Senator Edgardo J. Angara warned that the Philippines is failing to take advantage Renewable Energy (RE) with the lack of government support for the industry, adding that the Feed In Tariff (FIT) rates need to be set in order to promote the use of RE and for the country not to lag behind as neighboring countries make aggressive moves to integrate RE systems into the energy mix.

Angara, Chair of the Congressional Commission on Science Technology and Engineering (COMSTE), said that RE systems such as wind, solar and biomass have the capability to create a new green industry, which will not only benefit the country by ending foreign oil dependence but by also creating new jobs.

Angara noted that some opponents of RE are calling for a move to increase energy efficiency instead of risking the deployment of RE systems, but he said that the smart move would be to develop energy efficiency and RE at the same time.

With news that the Ayala group has purchased a 50 percent stake in the company that owns the 33 MW wind farm in Bangui Bay, Angara added that the private sector has the vision to see the potential of investing in RE, and that the government needs to step up and support the industry.

San Miguel Corp., the Lopez group, and the Aboitiz group all have significant investments in RE systems.

COMSTE, a long time proponent for RE, has stated that the country can achieve 65 % of energy from RE in 10 years, with the right leadership, strategic investments by local and foreign parties, and a major focus on technology transfer to our local electronics and engineering companies.

Angara added that the RE industry can create thousands of high tech jobs in energy efficiency and renewable energy through the electronics industry. Semiconductor Electronics Industry of the Philippines Inc. (SEIPI), which is an industry partner of COMSTE has indicated the potential for the electronics industry to grow with RE by supplying components for solar manufacturing.

COMSTE is a non-voting member of National Renewable Energy Board (NREB), which is tasked to come up with Feed In Tariffs (FIT) rates for RE. FIT rates will help stimulate the industry by offering guaranteed payments per kilowatt-hour to renewable energy developers for the electricity they produce.