Volume II • Issue 1 July 2016The official newsletter of the Energy Policy and Development Program (EPDP)

EPDPnews

The second lecture, on April 18, hosted economist Roehlano Briones and biofuels expert Rex Demafelis who presented their draft paper (co-authored with Bernadette Tongko and Kristel Gatdula) on “The Impact of Higher-Blended Biodiesel on the Coconut Industry of the Philippines.” Requested by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), the study aims to help inform policy-making decisions towards a cleaner, more sustainable Philippines by assessing the economic and environmental impacts of increasing the blend of biodiesel in engine fuels from 2% to 5%, as under the Philippine Energy Plan 2013-2030, the target is 5% for 2015.

On April 28, Director Jesus Tamang and Director Irma Exconde of the DOE led the first of two EPDP lectures on Philippine Energy Planning. “Energy Planning: The Philippine Energy Plan and the Power Development Plan” presented the DOE’s Philippine Energy Plan (PEP) 2012-2030, which aims to develop a secure power sector and more efficient and sustainable energy system in the country.

Prof. Ruperto Alonzo of the UP School of Economics and

EPDP Lecture Series Brings Philippine Energy Sector Discussions to a Wider Audience

In March 2016, the EPDP Lecture Series was launched. The bi-monthly classroom-type discussions on various energy issues in the Philippines seek to better inform the general public on the Philippine energy sector and its challenges as well as opportunities. Led by experts in the field, the lectures gather energy professionals, policy makers, academics, students, advocates, and other stakeholders to join the discussions, further their knowledge, and explore how these issues factor into the growth of the country.

The series commenced on March 31 with the lecture “Energy: Power Security and Competitiveness,” which is largely based on the paper “Filipino 2040 | Energy: Power Security and Competitiveness” by EPDP Program Director Majah Ravago and EPDP Fellows Raul Fabella, Ruperto Alonzo, Rolando Danao, and Dennis Mapa. The lecture gave way to a lively discussion among speakers and participants about topics like the generation, transmission, and distribution of power; electricity charges; and renewables and other energy sources. Among the attendees were UP President Alfredo Pascual and representatives from DOE as well as members of the power generation, transmission, and distribution industry.

Atty. Teresa Ira Maris Guanzon of EPDP’s Policy Component delivered on May 19 the lecture “Assessment of the Philippine Power Sector Policy Landscape.” Theyexamined the adequacy of the country’s energy policies,

plans, and programs in helping achieve the national goals of economic efficiency, inclusive growth and equity, and enhanced environmental quality.

EPDP Research Workshop Endeavors New Research Activities

Research is a critical pillar of EPDP. On April 4, EPDP fellows shared their ideas during the EPDP Research Workshop held at Microtel, UP Technohub in Quezon City.

The workshop served to update EPDP’s research agenda and validate emerging needs and priorities of the Philippine energy sector. The fellows also discussed proposed research undertakings for the program’s second year based on the EPDP research agenda, which will feed into the policy development, capacity building, and awareness-building components of the program. It also took up points raised during the Policy Workshop held in February.

The discussions were led by EPDP Program Director Majah Ravago. Energy topics that emerged as top priority are optimal fuel mix modeling; electricity cost comparison within and outside the Philippines; and

internal market integration with emphasis on grid management policies and regionalization of plans. These priority topics were identified via EPDP’s continued engagement with NEDA, DOE, and other stakeholders. The third Research Workshop is in accordance with the research component’s mandate of generating conceptual foundations to support the discussion of energy issues and policy formation.

The Market Testing of Power Supply Agreements

Philippine Energy Planning Part 2

Macro-Micro Level Linkage of Energy and Poverty

Power Supply

11 August 2016

25 August 2016

15 September 2016

29 September 2016

EPDP Lecture Series

EPDP NEWS is published by the Energy Policy and Development Program (EPDP). The information in this newsletter are provided by EPDP’s research, capacity building, policy, and communications components.

Suite B2-003 Centennial Bldg., Concordia Albarracin Hall, E. Jacinto St. corner C.P. Garcia Ave., University of the Philippines,

Diliman 1101 Quezon City, Philippines

ContributorsJean Marie Isabelle Lau Wang

J. Kathleen MagadiaMari-An Santos

Nedheline Barquin

Dr. Majah-Leah RavagoEPDP Program Director

LayoutNedheline Barquin

Editorial Staff

Editorial CoordinatorMari-An Santos

EPDP Class Conference Creates Environment to Foster Future Energy Professionals

EPDP hosted three class conferences for the students of the UP School of Economics, reinforcing the former’s role in helping increase the capacity of the academe in managing energy-related programs and issues. Students of ECON 199 presented their theses during the first conference held on 2 May 2016 at the University of the Philippines Diliman. EPDP Fellows Ruperto Alonzo, Rolando Danao, and Sarah Daway from the UP School of Economics, and Dennis Mapa, Manuel Albis, and Michael del Mundo from UP School of Statistics served as evaluators. Renewable sources of energy was the common thread among the research papers of students from ECON 198 and ECON 172 who presented on 16 May 2016. Guest evaluators assessed the research papers submitted by the students prior to the conference as well as the presentations of their studies during the conference. The Energy Economics and Policy (ECON 198) class proposed policies that can potentially address prevailing economic issues of the country’s energy sector. The panel for this class was composed of EPDP Fellows Rolando Danao, Ramon Clarete, Laarni Escresa, and Romeo

Balanquit. EPDP Fellow Raul Fabella also provided his insights on possible improvements.

The environmental impact of economic advancements was the consistent theme among the studies presented by the Resource and Environmental Economics (ECON 172) class. The evaluators were EPDP Program Director Majah-Leah Ravago, Adoracion Navarro, and Connie Bayudan-Dacuycuy. The hope is that these UP Economics undergraduates, having been exposed to issues in the Philippine energy sector, will pursue further studies and careers that contribute to the industry.

Email: infoEPDP@gmail.comEnergy Policy and Development Program

EPDP Conducts Econometrics Course for PH Energy Professionals

This newsletter (Energy Policy and Development Program) is made possible by the generous support of the American People through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). EPDP is a four-year Program implemented by the UPecon Foundation, Inc. The contents of this newsletter are the sole responsibility of the EPDP Team and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID, the United States Government, or the UPecon Foundation, Inc.

UPecon Foundation

Representatives of EPDP, headed by Program Director Dr. Majah Ravago, paid a courtesy call to Socio-economic Planning Secretary and Director-General Emmanuel Esguerra of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA). The topics covered were: the confirmation of PSC Alternate/Focal Persons of NEDA, the EPDP-International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) workshop, the collaborative IFPRI-EPDP-NEDA-DOE-PCC Research Project, and NEDA’s plan on the technical papers of “Ambisyon Natin 2040.” The NEDA Director-General sits on the program steering committee of the EPDP.

UP President Dr. Alfredo Pascual visits the EPDP booth during the UP Knowledge Festival held from 17-19 April 2016 at the Taal Vista Hotel in Tagaytay City. The event, with the theme “Utak at Puso para sa Bayan,” gathered the UP system’s top scientists, researchers, and artists in order to forge stronger interdisciplinary collaborations among themselves, and to cooperate towards effectively showcasing their outputs to media and the general public. The amount of new knowledge that has been generated from different research projects calls for a venue where we can communicate the important applications, significance, and relevance of UP’s research and creative work to Philippine society.

In support of its objective to strengthen the capacity of the Philippine government to formulate coherent and evidence-based policies and strategies towards sustainable and efficient energy use, a training course on econometrics was conducted by the EPDP last 11-13 April 2016 at the University of the Philippines School of Economics and University Hotel.

Building on the Introduction to Statistical Principles and Survey Data Analysis course conducted by EPDP last 25-27 November 2015, the course covered modern econometrics and their application to energy issues and development.

In attendance were 36 employees from the Department of Energy, Department of Trade and Industry, National Economic and Development Authority, Philippine Statistics Authority, National Electrification Administration, National Power Corporation, and Philippine Electricity Market Corporation.

The lecture-discussions, guided group exercises, and case presentations were conducted by EPDP Fellows Rolando Danao and Geoffrey Ducanes of the UP School of Economics; and Manuel Albis, Michael del Mundo, and John Carlo Daquis of the UP School of Statistics.

A follow-up course on forecasting will be held on 11-13 July 2016.

The 3rd EPDP Program Steering Committee Meeting was held on 4 May 2016 at the office of the National Economic and Development Authority in Ortigas Center. The meeting, chaired by Socio-economic Planning Secretary and NEDA Director-General Emmanuel Esguerra, was a venue for updates among EPDP PSC members Department of Energy Secretary Zenaida Monsada, UPecon Foundation chair Orville Solon, and USAID Environment Director Jeremy Gustafson (representing USAID Philippines Director Susan Brems) on various energy-related concerns and the ways EPDP can help address these issues and provide further support to the Philippine government. Also in attendance were NEDA Deputy Director-Generals Rolando Tungpalan and Rosemarie Edillon; DOE Undersecretary Mylene Capongcol, Assistant Secretary Patrick Aquino, and Director Jesus Tamang; and USAID representatives Rebecca Carter and Gil Dy-Liacco.