Press Release - SP Zubiri: PHL should increase reliance on renewable energy

As prices of oil spike and production are choked by war and politics, Senate President Juan Miguel "Migz" Zubiri said fossil-fuel dependent Philippines should tap its large renewable energy potentials, such as solar, hydro and wind, to lower electricity costs and tame inflation.

"If we can tap into the country's vast potential of renewable energy, especially solar, hydro and wind power generation, we can greatly reduce electricity costs in the country. Not only will it have a direct benefit to the people, it would also create favorable conditions for businesses to thrive," Zubiri said.

"I am a strong believer of renewable energy. We have the capability of becoming a renewable energy champion in Asia. Our problem is the red tape. It puts a dampener on the business community's enthusiasm to invest in renewal energy generation," Zubiri, a long-time champion of environmental conservation and sustainability, said.

Known as Mr. Clean Energy, the Senate chief is known as the author and sponsor of the Renewable Energy Law of 2008, as well as for spearheading legislative efforts to enact the Biofuels Act of 2006.

Zubiri said the Philippines can easily be Asia's leader and champion for renewable energy, but red tape hinders the efforts of businesses to capitalize on this potential and make waves in the area of clean power.

As of now, Zubiri continued, renewable energy accounts for over a fifth or 22.13% of the total energy generation in the country in 2022 with 24,684 GWh generated, while coal accounts for 59.56% or 66,430 GWh, quoting the Department of Energy's Summary of 2022 Power Statistics.

Of the total energy generated from renewable sources last year, the following is the breakdown according to kind of clean energy: geothermal, 10,425 GWh; hydro, 10,085 GWh; biomass, 1,322 Gwh; solar, 1,822 GWh; and wind, 1,030 GWh.

"But we have to address red tape that has been discouraging businesses from setting up renewable energy ventures. I have been talking to several businessmen and investors, and this is their common answer: they are frustrated with bureaucratic red tape," he added.

The Senate President said one way to solve this problem is to give "more teeth" to the