The Department of Energy (DoE), in partnership with the European Union Access to Sustainable Energy Program (EU-ASEP), has drafted guidelines under which appliances sold in the country must meet specific performance hurdles.

The draft guidelines were presented at the forum on “Directing the Compliance with the Philippine Energy Standards and Labeling Program (PESLP)” under proposed Department Circular (DC) DC2016-04-0005 on 24 August at the Makati Diamond Residences.

The draft DC entitled, “Declaring the Compliance of Importers, Manufacturers, Distributors and Dealers of Electrical Appliances and other Energy-Consuming Products with the PESLP as a Policy of the Government,” was presented to ensure that appliances sold in the market adhere to Philippine minimum energy performance standards.

“The PESLP is vital to the DoE’s E-Power Mo! Movement as it provides consumers with the energy ability to make informed choices. Proper labeling of appliances will bring greater understanding of power consumption, thereby encouraging people to adopt more energy-efficient lifestyles,” said Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi.

A total of 131 participants attended the forum, which included representatives from the Department of Trade and Industry, appliance manufacturers and retailers from the private sector, as well as members of the academe. An overview of the PESLP was presented, followed by two breakout sessions on lighting and air-conditioning.

Prior to the event, the DoE conducted public consultations nationwide from March to December 2017 to come up with the implementing guidelines.

The event was made possible through the technical support of the energy efficiency experts of the EU-ASEP led by program manager Willy Hick alongside the Energy Utilization Management Bureau and the Energy Research and Testing Laboratory Services of the DoE.

“It is important for consumers to be made aware of the products and appliances that bring more value for their money,” Cusi said.