The Department of Energy (DOE) signed a memorandum of agreement with the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) on Thursday in a bid to optimize the country’s use of renewable energy and make it more accessible to the public.
DOE Undersecretary Sharon Garin signed the agreement with NIA administrator Eduardo Eddie G. Guillen, with Senior Deputy Executive Secretary Hubert Dominic B. Guevara as witness, during the event held at the Presidential Guest House in Malacañang.
Undersecretary Garin said that the agreement is a way of hastening and meeting the objectives of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to generate 35 percent of power from renewable energy sources by 2030 and 50 percent by 2040.
She added that it will not only protect the assets of the NIA and the DOE, but will also generate power for irrigation and the communities.
“Ito po ay very commendable achievement of both or the whole government kasi po sama-sama ‘yung gobyerno even not just the two agencies para lang po ma-attain ‘yung food security and also energy security ng bansa,” Garin said.
For his part, Guillen said that the project is an offshoot of repurposing water rights into multi-purpose use as he emphasized that they can now accept NIA proposals for a “floating solar.”
“Itong partnership na ito ay ma-streamline at maayos ‘yung ating application sa renewable energy service contracts,” Guillen said in his remarks, a few minutes after the signing of the agreement.
He added that the agreement only showed the unity of the government agencies under the administration of President Marcos.
The agreement between DOE and NIA signified a crucial step forward in the pursuit of water security and sustainable resource management, which is aligned with the goals outlined in Executive Order No. 22, series of 2023.
It also formalized the two agencies’ partnership to enhance the countrywide approach in developing the renewable energy resources in line with the nation’s goals to generate 35 percent of power from renewable energy sources by 2030 and 50 percent by 2040.
Under the agreement, the DOE will utilize the existing NIA irrigation facilities and the ongoing constructions, including areas identified and listed for future irrigation development projects “for public consumption” without compromising the operations of NIA.
As part of the strategic initiative, NIA’s irrigation water will not only help the agency to expand economically and generate additional funds for the operation and maintenance of its irrigation facilities while allowing the DOE to provide the public with better access to clean, reasonably priced energy source. PND
