The Philippine Department of Energy (DOE), in partnership with the European Union-supported Access to Sustainable Energy Programme (EU ASEP), ASEP Clean Energy Living Laboratories (ASEP-CELLs), ICLEI Southeast Asia (ICLEI SEAS), and the Ateneo School of Government (ASoG), recently organized another online pre-forum session on the Government Energy Management Program (GEMP), a government-wide program that aims to reduce the government’s monthly consumption of electricity and petroleum products by 10% through energy efficiency and conservation (EEC) strategies.

Held on 13 July 2021, the session convened more than 100 representatives from Luzon local government units (LGUs).

DOE Energy Utilization and Management Bureau Director Patrick Aquino graced the event and provided updates on the GEMP and its reportorial requirements. Meanwhile, ICLEI SEAS Project Assistant Kenneth Bernard Hizon and Consultant Engr. Charlton Materum discussed the Local Energy Efficiency and Conservation Plan (LEECP), a mandated LGU requirement of the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act. The ICLEI representatives also introduced the GEMP brochure that explains the electricity and fuel monitoring forms that LGUs must comply with as part of the GEMP.

ASoG’s Executive Education Program Training Director Dr. Lloyd Bautista complemented the DOE and ICLEI SEAS discussion on GEMP and the LEECP by presenting their researches and training courses on clean energy that were developed through the generous support of the ASEP-CELLs.

ASoG’s Academic Head Ms. Cristina Alikpala also showcased the pioneering Energy Transitions track of ASoG’s Master in Public Management program which seeks to provide both professional and academic training to stakeholders in the energy sector. It aims to build the capacity of graduates towards the achievement of more sustainable and equitable energy systems.

The pre-forum session served as the second part of the GEMP Sessions, with the first held for Visayas and Mindanao LGUs on 18 May 2021. The GEMP Sessions are also tied to the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Forum on Financing Modalities and Tools for Luzon which took place from 15 to 16 July 2021.

For further information on the ASOG MPM Energy Transitions track, please send an email to the ASOG academic team at academic.asog@ateneo.edu.