ILOILO CITY (PNA) – The Aquino government will strive to ensure the energy security and increase the self-sufficiency level of the country by pursuing a number of policies that include the enhancement of energy efficiency and conservation (EEC) in the public and private sectors.

Department of Energy (DoE) Visayas Director Antonio Labios underscored the importance of this policy objective during the recent national training-workshop on energy efficiency and conservation for commercial, industry and private sectors held here.

Labios said Energy Secretary Jose Rene Almendras has underscored the need for the promotion of energy efficient activities, which the DoE chief hoped would save energy consumption of up to 20 percent at the household level and 25 percent for industries.

Labios said with the pronouncement of their Secretary, the DoE will intensify the implementation of energy efficiency and conservation programs in the country.

Aside from the EEC policy, Labios said the government will also accelerate the exploration and development of indigenous energy sources and intensify the development and utilization of renewable energy and environment-friendly alternative energy resources and technologies.

He said the government will continue to implement reforms in the power sector and downstream oil and gas industries as well as provide a climate conducive to investments and fair competition.

The government seeks to raise the country’s energy self-sufficiency level from 58.9 percent in 2009 to more than 60 percent this year and beyond.

Labios told the participants of the training-workshop representing various power industry and consumer sectors that their support would be a crucial factor in bringing about the realization of the government’s energy security and sufficiency goal.

The training-workshop, part of a nationwide EEC advocacy campaign of the DOE, is now on its 8th leg and will be brought to seven more areas of the country. It is being done in partnership with the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP).

The EEC campaign in the public sector is embodied in the Government Energy Management Program (GEMP) which requires government agencies and institutions to save on their energy consumption.

In another development, the province of Negros Occidental is scheduled to celebrate the 19th Environment Week from June 19 to 25.

The celebration will highlight forest protection and conservation, after the year 2011 has been declared International Year of the Forests.

The week-long celebration aims to make the public aware of various facets of environmental advocacy such as issues and threats facing the environment, socio-economic concerns and impacts, responses and solutions for forests and other protected areas.

Ilonggo song-writing and video advocacy contests were launched in time for the environment week celebration.

Winning entry will be adopted as the official theme song and video advocacy material during the celebration.

A fun (bike) ride on June 19 will kick off the celebration with Bikers Club in the cities of Bacolod, Bago, Silay, San Carlos, Himamaylan, and Sipalay joining the activity.

Also, a thanksgiving mass and an opening program are scheduled on June 20.

On June 21, the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Negros Occidental Private Schools Sports and Cultural Education Association (NOPSSCEA) will conduct “Schools for the Forests: Alternative Classroom” lectures on the state of the environment particularly the forests.

The Provincial Solid Waste Management Board is also set to meet on June 22 to launch the Provincial SWM Plan while a simultaneous village clean-up day will be held on June 23.

The province also has its own version of the Earth Hour where on June 23, Negrenses are encouraged to turn off their lights from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. to participate in the EnerCon (energy conservation) Hour set by the province.