DOE sees P2B in savings from accelerated gov't energy conservation program

The Philippine government could save as much as P2 billion worth of electricity and fuel consumption from the accelerated implementation of the Government Energy Management Program (GEMP), the Department of Energy (DOE) said Thursday.

In a statement, the DOE lauded President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s issuance of Administrative Order (AO) No. 15, which directs the accelerated implementation of the GEMP.

“All agencies and instrumentalities of the national government, including government-owned or -controlled corporations are hereby directed, and all LGUs are hereby encouraged to undertake efforts to ensure efficient and judicious utilization of energy,” the AO read.

Marcos, in signing the AO No. 15, said there is a need to intensify efficient utilization and conservation efforts of electricity and fuel to mitigate power demand amidst the ongoing El Niño phenomenon.

The GEMP is a government-wide program aimed at reducing the government's monthly consumption of electricity and petroleum products through efficient use and conservation of energy and fuel, among others.

The DOE said that in 2023, the institutionalization of GEMP resulted in electricity savings for the whole of government amounting to more than P300 million or an equivalent of over 30 million kilowatt-hour (kWh) and more than P25 million in fuel savings or an equivalent of 386,083.59 liters of fuel.

These savings are the result of 1,210 audited government offices out of the estimated 8,000 total entities identified, it said.

“The accelerated implementation of GEMP under AO 15 is estimated to result in up to nearly P2 billion in savings for both electricity and fuel, based on the average savings from 2023,” the Energy Department said.

The AO No. 15 complements the implementation of Republic Act No. 11285 or the Energy Efficiency and Conservation (EEC) Act in all government entities under the executive branch, including government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs), government financial institutions (GFIs), their subsidiaries, and state universities and colleges (SUCs).

“The President wants the entire government to embrace energy conservation measures. AO 15 will intensify our efficient utilization and conservation efforts in the use of electricity and fuel to help mitigate energy demand, especially with the onset of El Niño,” said Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla.

“It advocates a shift to a sustainable energy lifestyle with the government setting a strong example,” said Lotilla.

Specifically, AO No. 15 directs the conduct of energy audits, submission of inventory of existing energy consuming equipment, and timelines for upgrading to more energy efficient equivalents, ensuring compliance with the DOE guidelines on energy conserving design for buildings and the Philippine Green Building Code for new building construction and building retrofits, and adopting low-cost EEC measures by maintaining ambient temperature of 24°C in air-conditioned spaces, turning off unused lights and air-conditioning units, and activating sleep settings on office equipment.

AO 15 also institutionalizes the designation of an EEC officer and focal persons in each government entity, compliance with the DOE-GEMP Online System, preparation of the EEC programs, and allocation of appropriate amounts for the implementation of planned energy management programs.

The DOE-GEMP Online System is an online submission platform of vehicles, appliances and lighting inventories, and monthly electricity and fuel consumption.

The DOE said it is tasked to release the implementing guidelines of the AO No. 15 within 30 days from the effectivity of the order. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News