← BACK

JV Ejercito urges DOE to pursue clean, renewable energy amid climate crisis

December 07, 2022

Senator Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito on Wednesday called on the Department of Energy (DOE) to fulfill the Philippines’ commitment to clean renewable energy as countries scramble to lower their carbon emissions and lessen their contribution to global warming.

During the Commission on Appointments’ hearing on the appointment of Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla, Ejercito said expanding the Philippines’ renewable energy portfolio and reducing the country’s dependence on coal can mitigate the impacts of global warming, which he called a “clear and present danger.”

“We want to minimize the effect of global warming, kasi po ngayon, heat waves, melting glaciers, droughts, flooding in areas that don’t (usually) flood. Doon po sa mga areas na dapat umuulan, di na umuulan. Sa mga areas na (hindi) binabagyo, binabagyo na po [...] I think this is a clear and present danger that is facing not only our country, but the world,” he said.

“We know for a fact that one of the biggest contributors to global warming is the greenhouse effect. One of the biggest contributors to greenhouse effect is the emission coming from the coal plants,” he added.

Lotilla agreed with Ejercito, saying that his agency is committed to meeting the country’s targets for renewable energy and the reduction of its carbon emissions.

“This concern of yours is something we share and therefore we are committed to meet the targets of 35 percent of renewable energy by 2030 and 50 percent by 2040,” he said.

Citing ongoing dialogues with France on proposed partnerships on the development of nuclear energy in the Philippines, Ejercito said the DOE should study the feasibility of establishing nuclear power plants in the country to meet growing demands for clean energy.

However, the lawmaker from San Juan reiterated that safety should be the agency’s top priority in its pursuit of nuclear energy.

“For us to industrialize and for us to develop, you have a very important role to play. Aside from infrastructure development, we need to have a reliable source of energy and cheap cost of energy,” he said.