DOE integrates ASEP work plans with PEP

The Department of Energy (DOE) will integrate the work plans of European Union’s Access to Sustainable Energy Program (ASEP) in the country’s energy plan to provide sustainable energy to rural communities.

DOE Undersecretary Felix William Fuentebella said Secretary Alfonso Cusi requires that ASEP work plans be synchronized with the Philippine Energy Plan (PEP) and the sectoral roadmaps.

“We have to focus on energy efficiency and capacity building to further empower our people, especially those living in the rural communities,” he said.

The ASEP is a joint undertaking of the DOE and the EU to promote total electrification, energy security, efficiency and sustainability in the Philippines.

Currently, the DOE is working with EU-ASEP to draft a national strategy for energy efficiency in the power sector.

This is aimed to strengthen “the Government Energy Management Program through building energy performance standards and benchmarking, including reviewing the Energy Efficiency Bill for finalization,” Fuentebella said.

Workshops will also be done until mid-2018 and a high-level study abroad, among others, for the capacity development subcomponent.

Fuentebella said all of these efforts would contribute to fulfilling the three key results areas for the program such as strengthening the capacity of energy sector stakeholders to pursue a pro-poor sustainable energy policy and institutional reforms; facilitating investments to increase access to renewable energy in rural, remote and high-poverty ar- eas, especially in Mindanao and promoting pro-poor and disaster-resilient innovative energy solutions for job creation and wider access, like solar or hydropower pumps, solar lanterns and solar dyers.