The Department of Energy (DOE) is mandated to provide adequate, reliable and affordable energy to industries to enable them to provide continuous employment and low cost of goods and services, and to the ordinary citizen -- to enable them to achieve a decent lifestyle. Energy should not only be produced and used in a manner that will promote sustainable development and utilization of the country's natural resources but at the same time contribute to the country's overall economic competitiveness and minimize negative environmental impacts.

President Arroyo recently unveiled her energy independence and savings reform package that aims to achieve a 60-percent self-sufficiency level by 2010 and thus shield the country from the adverse effects of imported energy.

Energy independence and savings program include increasing indigenous oil and gas reserves, developing renewable energy, increasing the use of alternative fuels, forging strategic alliances with other countries and implementing strong efficiency and conservation program.

ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND CONSERVATION POLICY, GOAL AND STRATEGY

It is declared policy of the government to promote the judicious conservation and efficient utilization of energy resources through adoption of the cost-effective options toward the efficient use of energy to minimize environmental impact.

The primary goal of the government towards energy efficiency and conservation is to make it a way of life, increase awareness and the attainment of 229 MMBFOE total energy savings from the implementation of energy efficiency and alternative fuels programs for the period 2005-2014. It is projected that about 50.9 million tons C02 equivalent greenhouse gas emissions will be avoided for the same period.

The strategies to achieve these goals include: the aggressive promotion of energy conservation and energy efficient technology to effect higher energy savings both for the consumer and producer through information, education and communication campaigns; intensify collaboration effort with the private sector in implementing energy efficiency programs through voluntary agreements; continuous implementation and expansion of the appliance and equipment energy standards and labeling implementation of building energy usage standards; integration of energy efficiency concepts in the procurement practices of the government; the provision of technical assistance in identifying, implementing and evaluating effective measures to improve energy use efficiency; the use of alternative fuel to reduce dependence on imported oil; and periodic program monitoring and evaluation to assess the effectiveness of the energy efficiency and conservation plan.