Gatchalian to next energy chief: Ensure enough power supply, make PH self-sufficient

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 15) — A senator is calling on the country’s next energy chief to step up and push for the country’s self-sufficiency amid growing energy demand.

Sen. Win Gatchalian, outgoing chairman of the Senate Committee on Energy, shared in an interview with CNN Philippines’ The Source on Wednesday the ideal qualities of the next Department of Energy secretary under the administration of President-elect Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

Gatchalian said the next energy chief must be a visionary, someone who is hands-on, and has integrity and an unblemished track record.

“One thing I learned being the energy committee chairman, it’s a sector that is always changing almost on a monthly basis because of technology, because of trends, financing,” he said. “We need someone who is hands-on, listening on the ground.”

Gatchalian added that the incoming secretary should also take on the challenge of making sure the Philippines has enough energy supply in the next decades, and should eventually push for the country’s self-sufficiency in its energy needs so that it does not have to depend on resources from other countries in times of crisis.

“Two things: First, making sure we have enough power in the next 20 years. This pandemic has slowed down economic growth but our economy is still strong and I feel that after the pandemic, we will go back to about 6 to 7% growth, meaning we will need to expand our supply by 6 to 7% as well because they are directly correlated,” the senator said.

“Second, we need to be self-sufficient. One thing that the Ukraine incident taught us is we’re not self-sufficient. Konting gulo lang in the Middle East, may ganitong invasion [with just a minor conflict in the Middle East or with an invasion), we get affected here,” he said.

“Let’s be self-sufficient in terms of our energy needs. Look for oil and gas, use electric vehicles so we don’t use petroleum anymore, and expand our renewable energy sources so we don’t have to import coal,” Gatchalian added.

Marcos has not yet named who will succeed the post of Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi.

The president-elect said, however, that tapping and utilizing renewable energy sources is part of his economic reconstruction targets under the 2023 national expenditure program.

READ: LIST: Who will be part of Bongbong Marcos’ Cabinet?