Press Release
April 25, 2011

ANGARA CALLS ON GOV'T TO SUPPORT RENEWABLE ENERGY INDUSTRY

Senator Edgardo J. Angara said that the development of the Renewable Energy (RE) industry in the Philippines is in need of increased government support to end oil dependency and provide a cleaner alternative to coal.

Angara, Chair of the Congressional Commission of Science, Technology and Engineering (COMSTE), noted that the commission has been supporting public-private partnerships (PPPs) in RE such as solar, wind, and biofuels such as algae.

He said that last year solar photovoltaic (PV) installations reached more that 15.6 GW worldwide, which is more than double the growth of solar in 2009, indicating that other countries are recognizing the viability of RE and committing to move towards its continued development and installation.

Angara noted a Bloomberg report stated that in 2009 governments around the world committed $188 billion in stimulus packages for RE, with over 100 countries having some form of policy to promote RE.

He noticed an increased presence in the media from both sides of the RE fence, stating that, "it is good that both sides are presenting their views so that the public can see the benefits of RE supplementing existing energy sources, and eventually becoming the mainstay energy source of the country."

Angara, author of the Renewable Energy Act of 2008, which encourages local entrepreneurs to go into the development of the country's vast renewable energy resources, noted news that the State of California has recently mandated that 33 percent of the state's energy must be sourced from RE by 2020.

He added that this legislation recognizes the benefits of using RE and at the same time the creation of new 'green' jobs from the industry. He said that COMSTE has been urging the government to make more aggressive moves in support of the RE industry as well as supporting local manufacturers of electric and hybrid vehicles.

COMSTE, a non-voting member of the National Renewable Energy Board (NREB), which is tasked with drafting recommendations for controversial Feed in Tariff (FIT) rates to the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), said that the FIT rates are important driving factors for the development of RE in the country.

Angara said that the government should move swiftly and aggressively to support the move towards RE, like most of the developing world, in order to free the country from relying on imported oil and fossil fuels.

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