Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said Monday the Department of Energy is focusing on lowering power rates and ensuring security of supply this year despite the moratorium on new coal-power plants.
“The mandate is to reduce power rate costs and to provide a more robust, stable and dynamic supply mix with emphasis on indigenous and renewable energy,” Cusi said in a statement.
The energy chief said the department should continue to do its share to ensure “the supply of oil, petroleum and power remained available, constant and reliable throughout the natural calamities and the pandemic last year.”
The DOE is at the forefront of pushing for the development of more renewable energy sources.
Cusi opened geothermal energy development to foreign investors and imposed a moratorium on greenfield coal power projects.
He also opened the West Philippine Sea for exploration and joint development for investors.
Cusi called on DOE employees to “be better and do better” in 2021 as the organization continued to serve the public and its stakeholders amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Cusi challenged the employees to “give back better” and the keep the “bayanihan” spirit alive.
“One thing that made us survive 2020 was our bayanihan spirit. And I think that is the same thing that will keep us floating in 2021,” he said.
“We do our jobs well so that others will be able to do their share. And that is what the DOE, the DOE family, and our industry players did in 2020,” he said.
Cusi said that when the pandemic hit the country, the DOE made sure that energy, power and petroleum would have continuous supply “so that our frontliners would be able to do their jobs efficiently.”
Cusi thanked the DOE personnel for the support they extended to him and the leadership team, saying this enabled him to effectively perform his job and made a responsive and active organization out of the DOE.
He said the public and consumers were looking at DOE “to deliver and work for affordable energy that is sustainable, a secured future and access to energy by all.”
