Senator Win Gatchalian underscored the need for consumer education in maximizing energy efficiency with the right appliances and devices to curb the monthly electricity bills of households and commercial establishments and at the same time help in managing the country’s supply when the demand is high.
“Sa mga panahon na mataas ang demand sa konsumo ng kuryente at nagbabadya ang pagkakaroon ng rotational brownouts dahil sa kakulangan sa suplay, malaking bagay kung nakakapagtipid tayo sa kuryente sa mga ginagamit natin araw-araw,” said Gatchalian, sponsor of Republic Act No. 11285 otherwise known as the “Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act.”
The law requires manufacturers, along with importers and dealers, to comply with the Minimum Energy Performance (MEP) and to display the energy label and the energy efficiency label showing the energy requirement and consumption efficiency of products such as appliances, devices, lighting fixtures, electrical equipment, and machines on the packaging and on the products themselves, as well as transport vehicles.
MEP refers to a performance standard which prescribes a minimum level of energy performance for the commercial, industrial and transportation sectors, and energy consuming products that must be met or exceeded before they can be offered for sale or used for residential, commercial, transport, and industrial purposes.
“While it is not explicitly provided under the law, it is the responsibility of those in the business sector not only to educate but promote to consumers ways in which the public can conserve energy and attain savings in patronizing their products,” the re-electionist senator said.
“Kapag tayo ay nakakabawas at nakatipid sa paggamit ng kuryente, para na rin tayong nagdadagdag ng suplay. Sa batas na ito, binigyan natin ng kapangyarihan ang DOE para ma-manage ‘yung demand, mabawasan ‘yung konsumo natin at gumamit ng teknolohiya para maging episyente ang paggamit natin ng enerhiya,” the Senate Energy Committee Chairperson ended.