The Philippines is embarking on an ambitious transition program to clean energy, aiming to achieve a 50 percent renewable mix by 2040 that will require investments of $153 billion.
It is a daring program but it can only be doable if the government puts its best foot forward. The 50 percent target will remain a pipe dream, unless policymakers agree to put an end to public and private funding of fossil fuels that pollute the air and contribute to global warming.
That is is easier than done, of course. Energy Secretary Raphael ‘Popo’ Lotilla through it all remains upbeat on meeting the renewable energy mix by 2050. The Department of Energy (DOE) is currently conducting public consultations on the draft 2023-2050 Philippine Energy Plan (PEP) that aligns with the objectives outlined in the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2023-2028.
The cornerstone of the draft PEP, says Lotilla, hinges on the increased utilization and accelerated RE development. Our desired goal is to attain a minimum of 35 percent RE share in the power generation mix by 2030, and 50 percent by 2040,” says Lotilla.
The DOE under its plan seeks to achieve energy savings on oil products, 10-percent electric vehicle penetration in road transport, advanced and interoperable information and communications technology in the energy chain, and a resilient and climate-proof energy infrastructure.
Specifically, major investments are needed to realize the targets. The bulk of the investments, according to the plan, will be spent in the power sector for the construction of new generating plants costing $115.3 billion, including $94.3 billion for renewable energy and $21 billion for conventional power projects. About $6.97 billion investments are needed for transmission projects.
The draft PEP clearly did not call for the complete discontinuation of the funding and use of fossil fuels, in sharp contrast to the message of UN Secretary-General António Guterres.
For the UN chief, the key to tackling this crisis is to end the world’s reliance on energy generated from fossil fuels—the main cause of climate change. Fossil fuel subsidies, he says, are one of the biggest financial barriers hampering the world’s shift to renewable energy.
Guterres has consistently called for an end to all international public and private funding of fossil fuels, one of the major contributors to global warming, calling any new investments in them “delusional.”
The International Monetary Fund has revealed that $5.9 trillion was spent on subsidizing the fossil fuel industry in 2020 alone. The figure includes subsidies, tax breaks, and health and environmental damages that were not priced into the initial cost of fossil fuels. That’s roughly $11 billion a day.
And the winner is…
The International Basketball Federation, or FIBA, is without doubt the indisputable victor in the recently-held FIBA Basketball World Cup in Asia. Germany, too, is the clear winner of the 2023 games after securing the nation’s first trophy with an 83-77 victory over Serbia in the final. Over 4.6 million German viewers cheered the team during the championship game.
Smart Communications Inc. is the other winner of the successful FIBA Cup. Smart and FIBA will continue to work together under a global partnership until after the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 in Qatar.
Smart president chief executive officer Al Panlilio, also the president of Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP), says FIBA was impressed with Smart’s stellar promotional work for the recently-concluded FIBA Basketball World Cup, and agreed for a four-year extension of the partnership.
Under the partnership, Smart delivered and influenced highly successful on-ground and digital activations to delight basketball fans worldwide.
The centerpiece was the spectacular transformation of the Mall of Asia Ball into a colossal basketball with a hoop, which created one of the most breathtaking and monumental basketball tributes ever seen at a FIBA event.
Smart also unveiled a 400-square meter 3D Billboard at Bonifacio High Street Crosswalk and launched an interactive billboard with augmented reality integration along EDSA that showed larger-than-life digital versions of players dunking on an actual rim installed on the billboard.
The four-year extension comes off the back of the excellent cooperation between both parties. Smart is expected to reach out to Filipinos worldwide with promotional campaigns in this next phase of the collaboration.
Andreas Zagklis, FIBA Secretary General, said FIBA was excited and pleased that Smart would continue to help it with many more events, including the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 in Qatar.
Says Panlilio: “As we renew our groundbreaking global partnership with FIBA, we look forward to bringing more exciting and immersive experiences to the fingertips of our subscribers, powered by our world-class and award-winning mobile network.”
With the World Cup over, SBP is now setting its eyes on another regional tournament to help prepare Gilas Pilipinas for a successful campaign.
“We will now shift our focus to help Philippine basketball have a successful Asian Games campaign. With the recent performance shown by our Gilas Pilipinas team in the World Cup, we believe they will compete well in the Asian Games and bring honor to the country,” says Panlilio.
Panlilio, who was co-opted in the FIBA Central Board during their first meeting the board in Manila prior to the start of the World Cup, hopes Gilas will fare better after missing its mark in the FIBA World Cup.
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