PRESIDENT Arroyo yesterday said a series of
high-level meetings will be held this month and in February to
"develop a blueprint or more aptly, a green print for the energy
future of our nation."
The energy summit is slated January 29 to
January 31 and February 5 to February 7.
The government is determined to push for the
use of biofuels and alternative energy sources to make the
country more energy independent, Arroyo told the 5th biennial
convention of Chinese-Filipino Business Club Inc. at the Manila
Hotel.
Arroyo issued the statement in the light of
reports of lobbying in Congress over biofuels, both by major oil
firms who are afraid that alternative fuels would put them out
of business and by big landowners who want to cash in on the
projected windfall in converting their lands into sources of
biofuels.
Arroyo said government will include
conservation in the energy equation as well as how to relieve
the pain of energy costs on the poor in the short run.
"How this will be carried out is an open
question but we will do everything in our power to share the
burden and relieve the poor from bearing the biggest burden,"
she said.
Arroyo has also issued Executive Order 691
which leaves to the energy department the task of reducing the
tariff on the importation of crude and refined oil products
based on certain triggers that are indexed to oil prices in the
world market.
The tariffs shall be automatically restored
as international oil prices move down based on the same trigger
prices.
The energy department will be assisted by the
finance, trade and planning departments and the Bureau of
Customs in promulgating the guidelines of the executive order.
The new rates shall take effect upon the
certification of the energy department that a trigger price has
been reached and that the finance department has been notified
and an order has been ordered by the customs bureau.
EO 691 is a carbon copy of EO 527 which was
issued in 2006, when global oil prices also threatened to breach
the $100 mark.
World oil prices reached the $100 mark early this month.
– Regina Bengco
