DOE, EU, WB hold workshop for sustainable energy program

“The DOE is prioritizing the delivery of quality energy service to our people, not only in the business districts but also in the rural areas,” Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said in a news release issued Saturday. (Photo: Department of Energy Philippines/ Facebook)

MANILA — The Department of Energy (DOE) conducted a joint planning workshop for the Supported Access to Sustainable Energy Program (ASEP) that would help the country expand its generation of sustainable energy to meet its growing economic needs and provide energy to its poor and marginalized sector.

“The DOE is prioritizing the delivery of quality energy service to our people, not only in the business districts but also in the rural areas,” Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said in a news release issued Saturday.

The planning workshop, conducted with the European Union (EU) and World Bank (WB) in Camp Punta Fuego in Nasugbu, Batangas from Aug. 30 to Sept. 1, reacquainted the participants with the organizational structure and implementation mechanism of ASEP and its components to improve inter-agency coordination and streamlining of the overall implementation process.

Participants included representatives of the ASEP-Technical Assistance Team, EU Delegation to the Philippines, WB and DOE partner agencies, among them the National Electrification Administration (NEA) and the National Power Corp. (Napocor).

ASEP will be implemented through three components — Technical Assistance and Capacity Building Pillar, Investment Support managed by the World Bank, and Call for Proposals for Pro-Poor and Climate-Resilient Innovative Energy Solutions directly managed by the EU Delegation.

The workshop participants were expected to be more updated on the different implementation mechanisms and roles of ASEP players in the hope of strengthening the DOE’s E-Power Mo Campaign, which is designed to empower consumers by providing them information and options on the intelligent use of energy resources.