Senate President Win Gatchalian renewed his push on Friday for the passage of Senate Bill No. 366, also known as the Energy Transition Act, highlighting the urgent need to secure the country’s long-term energy future by lowering its reliance on imported fossil fuels.
The proposed law aims to create a comprehensive national framework for a clean energy transition. It focuses on accelerating the adoption of renewable energy sources, gradually scaling back fossil fuel dependency, and defining the specific roles of government agencies in transitioning the power and transportation sectors.
Beyond bolstering national energy security, the legislative measure is designed to help the Philippines meet its Nationally Determined Contribution goals. Under this global climate commitment, the country pledges to reduce and avoid 75 percent of its greenhouse gas emissions between 2020 and 2030.
Gatchalian emphasized that even with easing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, the country must remain aggressive in strengthening its energy resilience.
“Kailangan nating mabawasan ang pagdepende ng bansa sa inaangkat na langis upang maprotektahan ang ekonomiya laban sa anumang posibleng panibagong oil crisis o biglaang pagtaas ng presyo ng langis. Kaya mahalagang magkaroon tayo ng isang malinaw at maayos na energy transition plan,” Gatchalian said.