Aside from being a tourism destination: ‘Promote Philippines also as a business hub’

CEBU, Philippines - Department of Energy Undersecretary Loreta Ayson said the Philippines, particularly Cebu, has lot to offer aside from warm smiles of friendly locals, pristine beaches, and a wide array of cuisines.

In her opening statement in yesterday’s start of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Energy Ministers Meeting, she said the country needs to be highlighted as sustainable center for business and industry in line with energy resiliency. 

That was why she emphasized the need to improve and widen the country’s energy trade and investment, including business infrastructures that can withstand natural and man-made disasters.

“This year, however, we wish to highlight the Philippines not only for vacation and adventures, but also a showcase of business opportunities and cooperation among nations and economies,” she said.

 Ayson is optimistic of the implementation and success of the Cebu Declaration considering the continuing support, coordination and effective inputs by member economies through the 12th APEC Energy Ministerial Meeting (APEC EMM12).

The Cebu Declaration is a framework that embodies and focuses on plans and strategies “Towards an Energy Resilient APEC Community.”

 The 21 APEC member-economies, through the Energy Working Group, are currently finalizing and firming up the framework and action plans on energy resiliency, which is expected to be approved today.

The Cebu Declaration covers resiliency of energy infrastructures; energy investments; low carbon development/clean energy technologies; energy-water nexus; eco-tourism sites; regional standards on energy products and services; inventory and mapping of energy resources; human resources development; and gender fair approaches in energy.

Ayson also said that every nation must be empowered to be resilient, especially in battling or mitigating climate change and its effects. 

 Ayson said APEC economies should learn from experiences and shift to sustainable development to focus on energy resiliency, which would mean adaptation and mitigating the effects of climate change.

“We recognize we are in an era of rapid change.  Resi-lience is a key. The approach to growth that is what APEC 2015 is all about must focus on engaging communities to be more empowered, sustainable and resilience,” she said.

 “Recognizing the concern on climate change, APEC believe that now is the most opportune time to heighten discussions and information sharing, learn from each other experiences and best practices and come up with a collective action towards a resilient APEC community,” she added.

 Penelope Howarth, APEC Secretariat program director, echoed Ayson’s statement that the APEC meeting is an important opportunity for all member economies to “show deep collaboration.”

Energy resilient infrastructure plans to mitigate the impacts of disasters and natural calamities on energy infrastructures among the 21 member economies are embedded in the Cebu Declaration.

The action plans will include the doubling of renewable energy capacities by 2030 from the 2010 levels, and reducing energy intensity by 45 percent by 2035 from the 2005 level.

The plans or proposals, Ayson said, have different timelines based on their feasibility. For instance, she said, resiliency measures in conflict and vulnerable areas have to be done by end of June next year.

“Other proposals are sort of exploratory or evaluation to be completed at a certain timeline,” she said.  (FREEMAN)