Solar energy plan pushed
Citing the need to explore and develop other more sustainable energy sources, Magdalo party-list Rep. Gary Alejano is seeking the establishment of the Solar Energy Development Authority to promote the development and utilization of the solar energy.
Alejano laments that the country is too dependent on imported crude oil for its entire energy requirements.
“Other sources of energy such as hydroelectric and geothermal energy are not enough to supply our energy needs. There is, therefore, a need to explore and develop other alternative sources of energy in order to solve our current energy crisis,” he said.
Alejano filed House Bill 7094 seeking the creation of the five-man Solar Energy Development Authority to undertake extensive research on alternative sources of energy and implement the government program on the allocation, distribution, and sale of alternative sources of energy.
“Since solar energy is relatively new technology in the country, its potential use as an economical, safe and efficient energy source is generally unknown to the consuming public. It is therefore, necessary to create a government entity that would initiate and promote public acceptance of this new technology,” Alejano said.
House Bill 7094 provides that the powers and functions of the Authority shall be vested in a Board of Directors consisting of a Chairman and four members who shall be appointed by the President of the Philippines with the consent of the Commission on Appointments.
The chairman and the two members shall serve a term of four years, while the remaining two members shall be an ex-officio members, who shall be composed of the Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Secretary of Science and Technology.
The Authority is mandated to formulate a comprehensive policy for the research, development and utilization of alternative sources of energy.
The amount necessary for the effective implementation of the proposed Act shall be charged to the appropriation of the Department of Science and Technology under the current General Appropriation Act.