Philippines – DivinaLaw Energy Partners Participate in AZEC Roundtable.
DivinaLaw Senior Partners Jay Layug and Richie Pilares joined the Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC) Advocacy Group Roundtable held in Jakarta, Indonesia on August 20-21, 2024. Organized by the ASEAN Business Advisory Council, Japan Business Federation and the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA), AZEC was inaugurated as a platform to promote the formation of tangible projects for decarbonization among AZEC partner countries and provide advice and support for this regional collaboration.
Recognized for its energy expertise in the Philippines and the Asian region, DivinaLaw through Attys. Layug and Pilares were invited to join the AZEC Roundtable together with other Asian energy experts to share their insights on the Philippines’ calibrated approach to energy transition. Noting the dominance of fossil fuels in the energy mix capturing almost 60% of the total electricity generated in the Philippines in 2022 and the depletion of the only gas source in the Malampaya Deep Water Gas Project, Atty. Jay emphasized the need to reduce reliance on imported coal and oil and increase utilization of indigenous renewable energy resources in the Philippines. Atty. Layug also exhorted the richer countries to help the Philippines secure cheaper financing for its transition to cleaner forms of energy. During the session, Atty. Layug highlighted the aggressive push of the Marcos administration towards clean energy: “In two years, the DOE has fast-tracked the renewable energy programs and is in full gear to implement the revised National Renewable Energy Program. But the Philippine government is fully conscious that the transition away from conventional fuel would have to be calibrated.” He added: “With the intermittence and variability of RE and the high cost of battery storage, the DOE must be calculated in its approach to increasing renewables in the diverse energy mix. While the debate continues on the wisdom of continued use of conventional fuels, the Philippines must increase its current 28 GW installed capacity to address the growing population and economic progress.” Atty. Pilares meanwhile graced the launch of AZEC and the signing of the memorandum of agreement among member nations.
DivinaLaw is one of the leading energy firms in the Philippines. Attys. Layug and Pilares act as co-head of its Energy Practice Group.
