Risa Hontiveros Zeroes in on Cheaper, Cleaner, and Sustainable Energy for Filipinos
Written By Gero Lopina & Mikael Borres
As Senator Hontiveros was unable to participate in the usual Zoom interview due to her heavy schedule, Fascinating Features and the senator’s campaign team arranged an alternative set-up instead. We provided her team with the questions, and she answered them through video submission.
On April 6, 2022, in Los Angeles, Peter Kalmus — alongside fellow scientists and climate activists — was taking part in a global day of action to highlight the threats of climate change by chaining themselves to the entrance doors of a building owned by JPMorgan Chase, a funder of multiple fossil fuel projects.
“It’s time for all of us to stand up, and take risks, and make sacrifices for this beautiful planet that gives us life, that gives us everything,” said Kalmus, who was then arrested for his protest.
This event, alongside other protest moves by other scientists across the globe, prompted millions around the globe to work towards a common goal of forwarding a movement of #LetTheEarthBreathe – seeking accountability and an end to huge corporations pursuing fossil fuels. Risking arrest was for a positive agenda, paving the way to mobilization and people empowerment in accordance with the scientists and activists’ call to end the cruel exploitation of the planet’s natural resources.
In this light, among the many who took action, Filipinos are calling for leaders to finally address the crisis.
And one leader answered the call of her countrymen to champion climate action.
Risa Hontiveros has served as an elected Philippine senator since 2016, known for being the author of multiple bills relating to the environment. This includes Senate Bill No. 1097, also known as the Rights of Nature Act; this bill, if enacted, would “recognize natural ecosystems, populations, and processes as legal entities sui generis entitled to certain inherent and inalienable rights, such as those related to their existence, regeneration and restoration.”
In the coming May 9, 2022 elections, she once again aspires to serve the Filipino people by hoping to secure another term in the Senate. Only this time, she empowers her platforms by shedding light on the advancement of renewable energy policies and projects that would benefit the country best.
Hontiveros’ energy agenda is to lower the electricity cost while ensuring that the energy supply remains reliable, secure, and of quality for Filipino consumers. In an exclusive interview with Fascinating Feature, she expresses her belief that in achieving this goal of taking climate action, renewable energy plays a vital role.
The incumbent senator says she remains steadfast in actively attending the Senate hearings and that she served resolutions to examine the lacking implementation of Republic Act 9136 — or the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA), which mandates the Energy Regulatory Commission to promote competition, encourage market development, ensure consumer choice, and penalize abuse of market power in the restructured electricity industry. Hontiveros believes that EPIRA is the supposed solution to the high-cost electricity market in the country.
“There is also a need to empower electric cooperatives to help us realize a cleaner, cheaper, and sustainable energy source,” she expressed.
“Kailangang suportahan natin ang electric cooperatives … dahil katuwang natin sila sa layuning’ ito [We need to support electric cooperatives because they are our correspondents in this goal],” she added.
She then pointed to the annual rotational blackouts, claiming, “We must put an end to this [very real] problem that continues to pose a threat to the lives and livelihood of the Filipinos, especially during the pandemic.”
Hontiveros also claims to be an integral member in the investigation of the “bill shock” that many energy consumers experienced during the first implementations of the lockdown due to the pandemic; she explained that the billing of stacking electricity bills without actual meter readings was stopped through her intervention. She also headed an initiative for an installment payment system for Filipino consumers with stacked electricity bills.
Furthermore, she expressed that the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) was questioned over the billion-peso expenses on entertainment, advertisements, and public relations. She claims that while the majority of Filipinos are burdened by high-cost electricity, the shareholders of NGCP are indulging in billions of dividends.
“Sa mga ganitong kuwestiyonableng transaksyon, kailangan palaging may nagbabantay [In this kind of questionable transactions, there is a need for a constant watcher],” said Hontiveros.
Hontiveros understands that during the time of the pandemic, the cost of food, water, transportation, and electricity spiked. The Asian Development Bank (ABD) stated that disruptions in the food chain (mainly caused by the pandemic, as well as adverse effects of climate change such as pest infestation and global warming) have led to “pushed the domestic food price upwards in many economies” in the Asia-Pacific region.
She further expressed that the sales and income of small businesses were cut down. According to the ADB, “MSMEs [Micro, Small, and Medium-Sized Enterprises] that operated during the lockdown had a sharp drop in revenue, with 26.5% of micro, 40.8% of small, and 41.0% of medium-sized firms having more than a 30% revenue decrease in March 2002 from February 2020.”
“Kaya napaka-importante na kasabay ng recovery mula sa krisis ay makapagbigay tayo ng relief sa pamamagitan ng murang kuryente [So it is important that alongside the recovery from the crisis, we are able to give relief through affordable electricity],” she expressed.
Ultimately, in the upcoming May 2022 elections, her platforms remain for the benefit of the Filipino people. As part of her aspiration to continue her service to the country, she posed a question to the people, to which she provided the answer.
“Can the 35% renewable energy target in the energy mix by 2030 be realized? My outright answer to this question is yes!”
Sen. Hontiveros urges the Filipino people to be courageous in saying “No!” to contract coal and other fossil fuels. She believes that the people’s denial of one fossil fuel contract is the people’s concurrence to the advancement and strengthening of renewable energy in the Philippines.
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Image from Senator Risa Hontiveros’ Facebook Page
