EdAngara.com - The Official Website of Senator Edgardo J. Angara

As the 15th Congress winds to a close, graduating Senator Edgardo J. Angara ends his term with a rousing "valedictory" speech, thanking everyone who took part in his projects and initiatives in his 24 years in the Senate.

Senator Edgardo J. Angara called on the government to strengthen its efforts towards developing renewable energy initiatives during his keynote speech at the German-Philippine Policy Dialogue on Renewable Energy last week.

“After languishing in Congress for 15 years, the Renewable Energy Act was signed in 2008. However, after four years we are still lacking in enforcement and implementation,” said Angara, who authored the law.

As power rates continue to soar, Senator Edgardo J. Angara called on the government to invest in so-called “green technology” through the use of renewable energy (RE) resources to spare Filipino consumers from high electricity rates and perennial power rate hikes.

The Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) recently announced that it will increase its electricity rates this month due to an increase in generation cost last month. Last month’s electricity rates were also higher than the previous month’s.

Senator Edgardo J . Angara lauded the Department of Energy (DOE) for tying up with academic institutions for renewable energy (RE) projects but urged that industry stakeholders should also be involved.

DOE Undersecretarty Jose Layug Jr. recently told the press that the department will partner with select universities across the country to form affiliated renewable-energy centers (ARECs) that will monitor RE projects for research and development (R&D) purposes.

During the recent Department of Energy (DOE) budget hearing, Senator Edgardo J. Angara renewed his call for more support for research and development (R&D) on alternative fuels, eyeing it as a new economic venture for the country.

Angara, Chair of the Senate Committee on Science and Technology, spoke in response to the DOE saying that they affiliate their biofuel programs with state universities and colleges (SUCs) depending on the resources within their region.

Senator Edgardo J. Angara called for the proper management of the country’s water resources and the active development of a national renewable energy energy during the the CleanEnviro Summit held in Singapore.

“We live in an era characterized by scarcities, not the least in water and energy,” said Angara during his speech at the summit’s Clean Environment Leaders Sessions.

Angara, who just arrived from Singapore, noted that 16 million Filipinos, or around 20 percent of the population, are without water, while another 15 million do not have ready access to electricity.

Senator Edgardo J. Angara lamented the slow implementation of the Renewable Energy Act of 2008 (RA 9513), which has exacerbated the country’s energy issues.  
 
With 13 other senators, Angara sponsored the bill, which many like the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) described as one of the most comprehensive and forward-looking renewable energy laws in the world.
 

PHOTO 1
Senator Edgardo J. Angara is welcomed by European Union (EU) Ambassador Guy Ledoux, together with fellow speaker, Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Jose Rene Almendras.

PHOTO 2, 3 & 4
Senator Edgardo J. Angara, Chair of the Senate Committee on Science and Technology, delivers his message at the 1st EU-Philippines Meeting on Energy held last week at the Mandarin Hotel in Makati. Also present were members of the European Union Diplomatic Corps.

PHOTO 5
Senator Edgardo J. Angara, Chair of the Congressional Commission on Science, Technology and Engineering, is among the speakers at the open forum held during the first EU-Philippines Meeting on Energy which focused on renewable energy development. Also seated onstage are (L-R) Ms. Maria Molina, Deputy Head of Mission of the Embassy of Spain, Ambassador Wilhelm Donko of Austria, Ambassador Joachim Heidorn of Germany, Ambassador Stephen Lillie of England, DOE Secretary Jose Rene Almendras, and EU Ambassador Guy Ledoux.

PHOTO 6
The EU panel, together with the guest speakers, hold a press conference after the recent EU-Philippines Meeting on Energy. (L-R) Ambassador Joachim Heidorn of Germany, Ambassador Stephen Lillie of England, Ambassador Wilhelm Donko of Austria, EU Ambassador Guy Ledoux, DOE Secretary Jose Rene Almendras, Senator Edgardo J. Angara and Ms. Maria Molina, Deputy Head of Mission of the Embassy of Spain.

SPEECH VIDEO
1st European Union Renewable Energy Forum
PRESS RELEASES:
Angara - Implement Renewable Energy Act Now - February 27, 2012
Through Tech Transfer EU Can Help PHL Re Industry Grow - Angara - March 4, 2012

Senator Edgardo J. Angara, Chair of the Senate Committee on Science and Technology, delivers his message at the 1st EU-Philippines Meeting on Energy held last week at the Mandarin Hotel in Makati. Also present were members of the European Union Diplomatic Corps.

Senator Edgardo J. Angara underscored the importance of technology transfer and R&D for the Philippines to make the transition toward utilizing renewable energy sources.

Angara, author of the RE Law of 2008 (RA 9516), made the statement during a press conference at the 1st EU-Philippines Dialogue on Energy, reiterating the huge potential of RE sources throughout the country.

Senator Edgardo J. Angara called on the government to speed up the implementation of the Renewable Energy Act which passed in 2008 in support of the country’s fledgling RE industry.

“We have one of the most comprehensive renewable energy frameworks in the world. It was a remarkable piece of legislation when it was passed four years ago—however, it remains remarkable only on paper,” lamented Angara.