|
CITING
still rising global oil prices, Sen. Edgardo Angara
pushed for early approval by Congress of the proposed
Renewable Energy Act of 2008 to entice local
entrepreneurs to develop the country’s vast alternative
energy resources in order to “decrease our dependence on
imported fuel.”
Angara
said in a statement over the weekend, “We are at the
mercy of constant world oil price hikes. Each year, we
import 94 percent of all our crude oil needs. Our oil
consumption is projected to rise by more than 10 percent
in the next decade.”
He noted
that 2006 net oil imports (crude and petroleum product
imports less petroleum exports) went up 20 percent to
$6.8 billion—funds that could have been spent on
investments in human development like schools and
hospitals.
“The
high cost of imported fuel also translates to high power
prices which are passed on to consumers,” he added.
A study
made by the Renewable Energy Coalition, according to
him, showed that 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.
In
moving to fast-track passage of the renewable-energy
bill, Angara explained that solar, geothermal, hydro and
wind energy are proven power technologies, for which the
country has great and untapped potential.
Department of Energy data show the country’s resource
potential for geothermal energy is projected at 4,531
MW; hydro at 13,097 MW; biomass at 277 MMBFOE; solar
at 5.0 to 5.1 kWh/m2/day; wind at 76,600 MW; and ocean
at 170,000 MW.
“There
is a need now more than ever to explore our alternative
sources of fuel and energy. Our future is in renewable
energy. Many countries have already begun the
transition from total dependence on oil, and it would be
to our great advantage to follow suit,” he said. “We
need to pass this measure now because of the immediate
and long-term positive effects of renewable energy in
preserving our environment and stemming global warming
and climate change.”
He said
at least 56 countries worldwide now have some type of
renewable-energy promotion policy and that several
developing countries are actively engaged in enacting
policies. “At least 11 developing nations from Cambodia
to Turkey have some sort of national policies to
promote, encourage or directly fund clean-energy
development. We should not allow ourselves to be left
behind.”
At the
same time, Angara argued that “developing the
Philippines’ renewable-energy potentials would wean the
country from dependence on imported oil. I’m not saying
that the renewable-energy bill will be the magic bullet
that will solve all of our energy problems, but I
believe it is a vital step we must take in order to
harness and develop the vast alternative energy
resources that our country possesses, to benefit both
present and future generations.”
Having
the resources, manpower and all the opportunities, “what
we need is a legislative measure that will provide the
much-needed incentives, and an investment environment
conducive for developers of renewable-energy
technologies,” said Angara. |
