Press Release - Senator Pia Cayetano pushes for long-term energy solutions

The new Energy Committee Chair, Senator Pia Cayetano chaired the hearing on bills promoting the development of our natural gas industry.

Drawing from her background as former Chair of the Committee on Sustainable Development Goals, Innovation, and Futures Thinking, Senator Cayetano stressed the importance of viewing energy issues through a "futures thinking" lens.

"Energy issues require long-term solutions. We must act today to ensure energy sustainability, self-sufficiency, and reliability for the future," Senator Pia Cayetano stated in her opening remarks.

The hearing focused on natural gas as a transition fuel in the country's move from coal and oil dependence to cleaner renewable energy. Under the National Renewable Energy Program, renewables should comprise 35% of our energy by 2030, and 50% by 2040.

"There really are no shortcuts. There may be band-aid solutions, but there really are no sustainable solutions that can be made overnight. The only things that can possibly be made in the short term are good policies. That is our focus for today and the months to come, and we'll try to review and come up with policies that can help the way for a brighter energy future for our country," Cayetano stated.

She underscored the importance of having policies that support more exploration of natural gas. She added that having one's own supply ensures a country's energy security, one that is less dependent on international factors that affect the prices of energy sources.

In attendance were representatives from the Department of Energy, Energy Regulatory Commission, Philippine National Oil Corporation, Manila Electric Company, Firstgen Corp, Prime Energy, Philippine Independent Power Producers Association, and the Center for Energy, Ecology and Development.

Senators Alan Cayetano and Win Gatchalian were also present in the said hearing.

SENATOR PIA CAYETANO ISINUSULONG ANG PANGMATAGALANG SOLUSYON SA ENERHIYA

Isinusulong ni Senator Pia Cayetano, kasalukuyang Chairperson ng Senate Committee on Energy ang pangmatagalang solusyon sa suliranin sa enerhiya sa bansa kabilang dito ang pagpapaunlad sa industriya ng natural gas.

Bilang dating tagapangulo ng Committee on