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CNN Philippines
  • 11/24/2023
Sea levels rising, hotter weather, and stronger typhoons. These are just some of the worsening impacts of climate change.

As a country prone to natural disasters, what can we collectively do to address this crisis before it's too late?

We have via Zoom, Energy Utilization Management Bureau director, Patrick Aquino.

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00:00 Sea levels rising, hotter weather, and stronger typhoons.
00:03 Now these are just some of the worsening impacts of climate change.
00:06 As a country prone to natural disasters, what can we collectively do to address this crisis
00:11 before it's too late?
00:13 We have with us today, via Zoom, Energy Utilization Management Bureau Director Patrick Aquino.
00:18 Good morning, Patrick.
00:19 Good morning, Paolo, and to the viewers of New Day.
00:22 Great to have you, Patrick.
00:24 Where are we in terms of the country's situation due to climate change?
00:28 We're extremely vulnerable, aren't we?
00:31 Well, we are a vulnerable country.
00:34 We're exposed to extreme weather conditions, let's say typhoons, and then of course extreme
00:38 heat.
00:39 So on the part of the energy sector, our focus has been to make sure that the policies and
00:45 programs that are being implemented are of course minimizing the impact of climate change.
00:51 Specifically, of course, we're implementing under the Philippine Energy Plan, the downstream
00:57 oil deregulation sector, we're ensuring that the fuels that we have are compliant with
01:02 the Clean Air Act.
01:04 In the coming year, of course, we'll be also informing the public of the greenhouse gas
01:08 emission impact, let's say, of their vehicles for low road transport under the Philippine
01:13 Vehicle Fuel Economy Labeling Program.
01:16 So these are just some of the things that the Department of Energy is doing in partnership
01:20 with our other national government agencies to mitigate the impact of climate change.
01:26 Right.
01:27 Patrick, are there any other specific adaptation measures that are being implemented to address
01:30 the impact of climate change, especially the rising sea levels?
01:36 Of course, part of what we are experiencing is due to the emissions.
01:42 And towards that end, of course, the DOE is working on improving the clean air standards
01:48 under the Philippine national standards.
01:51 Of course, we are also implementing the Buy Fuels Act of 2007.
01:56 Herein, of course, the blends are being carefully studied.
01:59 And all of these are, of course, aimed at making sure that the emissions are lower.
02:03 We're doing this, of course, in partnership with our private stakeholders because we do
02:08 want to bring in all of these solutions in a manner that's sustainable and supported
02:13 by the industry.
02:14 Of course, cleaner air, less impact of climate change, less sea level rise, and extreme weather
02:20 conditions.
02:21 Now, many Filipinos are still not aware of what climate change is all about.
02:25 How can Filipinos contribute to somehow minimizing its effects?
02:30 Can you cite examples that we can do on a daily basis, perhaps?
02:33 Well, it goes well down to two things that the energy family is always saying.
02:40 One is that we support the increase of production, let's say, of renewable energy so that we
02:44 get to shift from conventional energy sources to the more renewable ones.
02:48 So that will be your solar, wind, ocean, geothermal, just to name a few.
02:53 And that's on the generation or the supply side.
02:56 What individual Filipinos can do on a daily basis, of course, to be more energy efficient,
03:01 do carpooling if you do have vehicles, take the public transport, and in your households,
03:06 of course, make sure that the appliances, when not in use, are turned off.
03:10 These are practical ways of Filipinos providing the assistance because the lesser we consume
03:17 and the more we use renewable energy, the lesser the emissions that we produce.
03:21 And we get to not only save the environment in our country, but also towards energy security
03:27 and sustainability, which is, of course, ultimately the goal of every Filipino.
03:31 It's a lot friendlier to the pocket as well.
03:34 November has been declared as National Clean Air Month.
03:37 Can you reiterate some of the goals of the Clean Air Act in the Philippines?
03:41 Well, the goal of the Clean Air Act here in the Philippines is, of course, minimize air
03:46 particulate pollution.
03:47 This is being done through monitoring of facilities.
03:51 Our partners here in the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, of course, are committed
03:55 in making sure that industry sectors and even the transport sector is compliant with this.
04:01 And of course, our emphasis always is on what individuals can do, corporations can do, and
04:06 that's, of course, making sure that the fuels that you're using are compliant with the clean
04:11 air standards, and of course, making sure that your pollution control officers and the
04:15 emissions of your generating facilities are meeting the Clean Air Act standards.
04:23 Right.
04:24 Let's talk about clean air.
04:25 Air quality in the country so far, what is the status?
04:29 What are the primary contributors to air pollution here?
04:33 Well, for urban areas, of course, Paolo, the greatest driver in terms of particulate emissions,
04:39 of course, is coming from the transport sector.
04:42 And that's why there's a renewed push right now from the Philippine side, the Philippine
04:46 government.
04:47 Last year, we passed the Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act, or EVDA, wherein
04:51 we're trying to decarbonize or shift the transport sector, of course, to a more cleaner option,
04:58 particularly pure battery electric vehicles.
05:00 They are zero emission, and that's the goal, really, for urban areas, of course.
05:05 And then there's also a continued push to improve the fuel standards so that for the
05:10 internal combustion engine vehicles, the emissions, of course, will be lower.
05:14 And for our other sectors, of course, we continue the monitoring and making sure that the standards
05:19 are on point and that they are compliant with them.
05:22 Right.
05:23 Patrick, how does the government, especially the Energy Department, collaborate with communities,
05:27 industries, other stakeholders to continuously enforce the law?
05:32 Well, our collaboration, of course, we do it in various forms, through information,
05:38 education, and communication campaigns.
05:40 That's one way.
05:41 We partner with state universities and colleges, or even private higher education institutions.
05:46 We communicate, of course.
05:48 The greatest power that we can do is really inform our public.
05:53 And we do this on a regular basis.
05:54 As you said, this month, of course, has been declared for awareness for clean air.
05:59 Next month, it will be National Energy Consciousness Month.
06:02 So all of these programs are really aimed at communicating to the public what they can
06:07 do and how they can be empowered to make informed decisions, of course, to improve air quality,
06:13 improve our energy security.
06:15 Well, November is Clean Air Month.
06:18 It's coming to an end, though, and we certainly don't want to forget about it.
06:21 In what way is the Clean Air Act integrated into broader climate change policies in the
06:26 Philippines?
06:27 Well, of course, the way it's integrated, we're looking at a whole-of-nation approach,
06:32 a South Line in Ambition Natin 2040.
06:35 We do want to have a comfortable, sustainable life, and part of that would be to have a
06:41 healthy environment.
06:43 So the government is taking the big approach of making sure that industries, the standards
06:48 in terms of emissions, and even on the information to the broader public are really made aware
06:55 of all of these programs and policies that are being implemented.
06:58 Right.
06:59 I think it's all about finding the balance and all of us pitching in and doing our part.
07:03 Patrick, it was great talking to you.
07:04 Thank you so much for joining us today.
07:05 [BLANK_AUDIO]

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