Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano emphasized the need for a clean-energy transition that does not burden Filipino households.
Cayetano also called for greater reliance on domestic energy resources to strengthen the country’s energy independence.
“With more than half of our energy requirements being imported, we are clearly vulnerable to geopolitical conflicts,” the veteran legislator said.
The seasoned lawmaker made the statement after the Department of Energy’s (DOE) budget briefing where senators raised concerns about the country’s dependence on imported fuel and the slow rollout of renewable energy projects.
“Heavy reliance on foreign fuel leaves the Philippines exposed to global price swings and supply disruptions.”
Cayetano underscored that heavy reliance on foreign fuel leaves the Philippines exposed to global price swings and supply disruptions.
“Let’s make sure our energy strategy moves in the right direction, one that strengthens our security and ensures every Filipino has access to reliable and affordable power,” he stressed.
Cayetano warned that delaying energy policies or favoring imported fuel could undermine both cost-effectiveness and supply security.
“Increased reliance on imported sources of fuel threatens the country’s energy security and energy sovereignty.”
“Increased reliance on imported sources of fuel threatens the country’s energy security and energy sovereignty because these are greatly susceptible to a volatile market,” he said.
“We have to transition to cleaner energy without making ordinary Filipinos pay more and at the same time build local energy sources that make our country stronger and more resilient,” Cayetano concluded.
