The Inter-Agency Energy Efficiency and Conservation Committee (IAEECC) chaired by the Department of Energy (DOE) has directed all government agencies to implement energy conservation projects that will result in at least 10-percent cost savings.
This move, it said, is meant to curb the spread of Covid-19.
“In compliance with RA 11469, or the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act, the NBC [National Budget Circular] and the GEMP [Government Energy Management Program], all concerned government agencies are enjoined to implement energy conservation projects and measures to achieve at least 10-percent cost savings in the petroleum products, air, steam and electricity consumption that would result to the addition to government’s resources to contain the spread of Covid-19,” it said in an advisory posted at the DOE web site Tuesday.
The committee said the energy efficiency and conservation projects, programs and measures shall be reported by each government agency with target savings, motor vehicle inventory and other strategies consistent with the GEMP to the DOE copy furnished the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).
The advisory was signed by Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi last May 8 and issued to the DBM, Department of Finance, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Transportation, Department of Science and Technology, Department of the Interior and Local Government, and the Department of Public Works and Highways, and the Director General of National Economic and Development Authority.
Section 9 of the RA 11285, or the Energy Efficiency and Conservation (EEC) Act, tasked the IAEECC to evaluate and approve government energy efficiency projects and to provide strategic direction in the implementation of the GEMP.
Section 43 of the EEC Act implementing rules and regulations stated that the GEMP shall cover all government agencies, including all departments, bureaus, offices, agencies, branches and instrumentalities or political subdivisions, GOCCs, including its subsidiaries or other self-governing board or commission of the government, LGUs, state universities, and colleges.