SUBIC BAY FREEPORT – In its effort to promote renewable energy to locators in this premier freeport, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority co-organized and welcomed the “Make REshift Happen” roadshow.
The Make REshift Happen roadshow is a forum organized by the Board of Investments of the Department of Trade and Industry at the Subic Grand Harbour Hotel here on Oct. 2.
SBMA chairman and administrator Eduardo L. Aliño said that Make REshift Happen introduces the guidelines for registering Energy Efficiency and Conservation (EE&C) Act projects.
He added that it also aims to raise awareness on and support for the national government’s goal of consuming 35% of the power generation mix in the country from renewable energy by 2030 and 50% by 2040.
Participants from manufacturing companies inside the freeport, together with their respective SBMA account officers, took part in the info session wherein the BOI urged local manufacturers to decrease their reliance on conventional energy sources by embracing energy efficiency and conservation measures.
BOI-Domestic Investments Promotion Service director Maria Rosario Dominguez expressed her gratitude to the SBMA for co-hosting the event, citing that the Make REshift Happen would certainly be beneficial to Subic Freeport companies.
She added that Make REshift Happen is a testament to the BOI’s dedication as the country’s primary investment promotion agency (IPA) in fostering camaraderie among IPAs, ecozones and industrial parks, and in pushing for the adoption of renewable energy.
She also said that these roadshows are made for enterprises engaged in export-oriented manufacturing and other industries with substantial power requirements.
During the session, BOI Resource-Based Industries Service director Raquel Echague cited the importance of the transition of manufacturing companies to renewable energy (RE) in powering their businesses inside this freeport.
The official also said that companies who transition to REs are given incentives, adding that the BOI and the DTI aim to provide benefits to facilities who will use renewable energy sources to power their operations.
Echague also conducted a presentation on the updated registration guidelines for EE&C projects with BOI under RA11285 (Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act) to provide the SBMA account officers with information on how to assist companies here in applying for their incentives.
Last month, the SBMA launched the “Race to Carbon Neutrality” project where participants and other stakeholders of the recently concluded Central Luzon Tourism Summit expressed their support to ensure its success.
The Race to Carbon Neutrality project aims to reduce these carbon emissions in the freeport by 30% by 2030, and eventually to net zero by 2040.
Currently, the SBMA continues to reap savings from its own solar power system projects installed as early as 2017. A total of P2.96 million was saved in 2023 from solar power systems Malawaan Park, Bldg. 229, Bldg. 255, Bldg. 662, Regulatory Bldg., and the Remy Field.
