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ENERGY SUMMIT IN OUR EVERYDAY LIFE
The Philippine Star No doubt, the Energy Summit staged last week would have attracted droves of interested stakeholders coming from a broad spectrum of the economy and from all walks of life. Even the menu of workshops, spanning topics like renewable energy viability to challenges on the current regulatory framework, would have guaranteed lively debates. Energy, after all, is an issue that will hound this decade. The reality of high-priced crude oil is simply the tip of the iceberg. Many new equations are being factored in: an overheating world economy, global warming, waning fossil fuel supplies, even the search for the best alternative fuel that will make this world keep humming. Government indeed has need to intensify its focus on energy concerns that would address long outstanding issues, foremost of which would be the high price of electricity in the country. The Then, there are the new debates that encompass biofuels, from what kind of plant derivatives to harness to the more fundamental question of whether biofuels is indeed the way forward in this era of expensive non-renewable fuels. Energy Secretary Angie Reyes has said that he and his staff will not only be walking the talk but even stalking the walk. This comes as a much-needed reassurance for the industry's stakeholders who are growing more impatient, especially nowadays with the global economy on the throes of a recession. To the more than a hundred initiatives that Angie's summit managed to raise, here a few more that may be worth adding to the list. Quick fixes In recognizing that a $100-oil barrel is no longer a far-fetched concept in this world and the near future, here are some are quick, but nonetheless essential, fixes that would help contribute in making the energy challenge less painful for everyone. Having been an oil man for over 30 years, I am partial to improving the metropolis's traffic management. Gasoline and diesel, being precious major by-products of crude oil, are still burned in most inefficient ways by the transport sector. Why do we continue to let old buses ply our extensive road network? No matter how well maintained a vehicle's engine is, there is an end to the number of years when it can perform optimally. Worse, our government continues to allow the importation of vehicles that other countries have banned. It is false economy for public vehicle operators to think that they are able to save money buying second-hand discards without factoring in the impact of fuel economy, not to mention, pollution. A good starting point in improving traffic management in the metropolis is for the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and other agencies to take stronger measures to keep colorum buses away from the major thoroughfares. These agencies could go one step further by implementing a scheme that would limit the number of almost-empty buses plying the roads at odd hours of the day. Energy-efficiency With the growing popularity of our elevated trains, it is high time that serious thought be given to adding more coaches to the existing trains, and even having trains leaving within shortened intervals. Commuters prefer the el trains not only because of the lower fares, but more so the convenience and reliability of the system. Barring the occasional rail problems, a passenger can expect to be at his destination within the prescribed number of minutes. These lightrail trains have proven to be far more energy-efficient than all the cars, buses, and jeepneys clogging the streets during the morning and evening rush and frequently ferrying only one or two people. Incentives, incentives Also, something that seems to have been forgotten by our legislators, why not seriously look into offering incentives for innovations that directly contribute to reducing oil and power consumption. This scheme is so well-used in many countries that adopting it locally should be a breeze. This should not likewise be a problem with the finance department because any savings in terms of energy consumption should be clearly measurable before any rebate or tax incentive is allowed. Not only should this be applicable to the private sector, but also to government entities. The bureaucracy, after all, is also a major consumer of electricity and petroleum products. Reviving energy conservation consciousness The once lively spirit of energy conservation seems to have been silenced, with people now paying less attention to the critical condition of energy usage. A renewed drive with more creativity and sense of urgency should inject some new enthusiasm in a nationwide campaign. Considering that depletion of fossil fuels is something that can no longer be ignored, and the fact that world energy demand forecasted to grow by 1.6 percent until 2030, seventy percent of which will be accountable to emerging economies, the only acceptable operative phrases are energy conservation and alternative fuels. The development of energy sources that are renewable is something that we can leave to the experts. Energy conservation, on the other hand, is something you and I can readily contribute. In these times when an energy crisis seems imminent once again, each of us can play a role to help the country and the world surpass this global challenge. Let's start by making the “Energy Summit” less of a PR job and more of actual productive action-oriented program. Let's make “Energy Summit” a part of our everyday life. “Pag-usapan Natin” views 2008 at IBC-TV 13 Watch “Pag-usapan Natin,” a segment of the IBC-TV 13 news program News Tonite, from
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