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Malacañang has rolled out energy austerity measures, directing all government agencies to significantly reduce power and fuel consumption amid the recent oil price shocks brought by the Middle East tension.
On Monday, Executive Secretary Ralph Recto said compliance is mandatory, stressing that President Ferdinand ”Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s directive applies to the entire bureaucracy, including state-run corporations.
Recto said ”the President’s order signals a decisive shift toward curbing demand, with government offices expected to take the lead in conserving energy.”
He said government offices have started enforcing the policy, with more than 1,000 offices implementing it in the first week alone.
The inspections focused on air-conditioning systems, lighting, and the use of office equipment to ensure adherence to the regulations being implemented by the government.
Under Marcos’ directive, government offices are required to limit electricity use, including adjusting air-conditioning levels and reducing non-essential lighting.
Further, fuel consumption is tightly controlled, and most government vehicles have been ordered off the roads.
Only those used for public safety and health services are exempted from the restrictions.
Marcos has declared a state of national energy emergency on March 24 amid the continuous increase in the prices of oil products.
The administration has about 45 days of fuel supply as of March 20, and is procuring an additional 1 million barrels of oil for buffer stock.
The President signed Executive Order No. 110, directing and authorizing the Department of Energy “to take appropriate measures to safeguard the stability and adequacy of the country’s energy supply and mitigate the adverse effects of disruptions in global energy supply markets.” —AOL, GMA Integrated News
Sharie Pecora
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