QUICK READ: EDC will continue to advocate alternative energy in the country and urge the government to encourage the transition from coal energy to clean and affordable resources.
Last year, the Philippines saw many victories in the ongoing battle against the climate crisis and push for sustainable energy resources. The government’s call to take action against climate change has spurred numerous initiatives from various branches, with Congress passing a resolution to declare a climate emergency as we continue to make efforts to combat the crisis.
Although we still can’t find ourselves on the path to 100% renewable energy despite efforts from the private sector to transition, it is worth noting that toward the end of 2020, the Department of Energy declared a coal moratorium that effectively bans the proposal and entry of any new coal-fired power plant in the country.
It has also been taking steps to ensure investments for alternative energy in the country. The DOE is in the process of reviewing proposals to hike the Philippines’ renewable energy capacity to meet our targets.
Recently, the DOE announced that the Philippines is ready to make the shift to alternative energy, and is pushing for renewable, low-carbon, and no-carbon energy sources to fulfill the country’s energy demands. Transitioning to clean energy will be initially expensive and time-consuming, but the long-term benefits that the country will reap would be worth it in the end.
Energy Development Corporation continues to do its part in providing renewable and sustainable energy resources to the country, which is especially crucial now that some effects of the crisis have proven to be irreversible. But now, it’s important for both the government and private sectors to join hands in working toward a future built on renewable energy.
This year, the Green Energy Option Program (GEOP) is set to take off in select parts of the country.
This program is designed to give business owners the option to transition to green energy and show them how much they can save from their electricity expenses. In 2020, EDC’s subsidiary Bacman Geothermal, Inc. (BGI) was awarded a GEOP operating permit.
Alongside this, the Retail Competition and Open Access (RCOA) will continue to enable suppliers to choose their own energy suppliers, which varies according to their supply and electricity needs. More corporate consumers can now make the shift to renewable energy as mandated by the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 (EPIRA). More choices allow them to choose the best and least-cost power option.
The Philippines is a country that’s rich in natural resources ideal for renewable energy, which is especially significant now that we’re also aiming to go beyond sustainability. It will take consistent collaboration between the government and private sectors, as we aim to become regenerative—that is, to unite in playing synchronized roles that will be helpful in achieving our common goals for the environment.
We want to be able to finally rely on alternative energy through partnerships in order to provide clean and affordable energy to Filipinos, and to reduce the carbon emissions we produce individually and collectively. Around the world, fossil fuels are figuratively and literally burning out, and many countries are making the collective shift to renewable energy, building new solar farms and geothermal power plants for a new baseload.
Today, Energy Development Corporation will continue to advocate geothermal energy in the country. We also hope and urge the government to encourage the transition from coal energy to clean and affordable resources.
The Energy Development Corporation (EDC) is a pioneer in generating 100% clean, renewable, and reliable power as an electricity supplier in the Philippines for over 40 years. With power plants all over Visayas and Mindanao, the company is one of the biggest producers of geothermal energy in Asia and is expanding its reach in the international market, allowing it to offer customers affordable energy rates. EDC also strives to provide the best customer service it can to all its clients by having helpful salespeople and easy to understand contracts. Because of all of this, it is poised to become the premier supplier of electricity for the Philippines’ Green Energy Option Program. EDC takes its mission as a renewable energy provider seriously and goes beyond sustainability by investing in programs that enhance the environment and empower its partner communities, thereby fostering regenerative development. The company has also been working toward being carbon-neutral by improving its energy efficiency, as well as implementing various greening projects to ensure that its mission to provide future generations with a better life remains intact.
