Senator urges public to conserve energy in view of El Niño

A PHILIPPINE senator has called on the public to conserve energy ahead of the expected dry spells and drought associated with the El Niño weather condition in the next year.

“Because the El Niño phenomenon brings warmer than usual weather conditions, we can expect electricity consumption to rise substantially due to heightened demand. Thus, there is a need to ensure that the country has an ample supply of energy to meet the country’s electricity requirements,” Senator Sherwin T. Gatchalian said in a statement.

He said Filipinos are expected to experience water and energy supply concerns in the coming year as the country will likely face drought and dry spells.

Under the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act, which Mr. Gatchalian authored, the government is tasked to come up with plans to secure the stability of the country’s energy supply taking into account the effect of high prices of power on local markets and their environmental impact.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. had ordered the Department of Agriculture to study the potential effects of El Niño on the prices of agricultural products to allow agencies to prepare countermeasures.

The President tasked the interagency body on El Niño to come up with countermeasures to efficiently manage energy and food resources to brace for the impending periods of drought and dry spells.

“These practices not only save money but also ensure sustainability and reduce the environmental impact associated with heightened energy consumption,” said Mr. Gatchalian, who heads the Senate Ways and Means Committee. — John Victor D. Ordoñez