Village Connect
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources Central Office (DENR CO) has posted a 100 percent rating—the highest score and performance grade—on the Department of Energy’s (DOE) audit results for the mandatory implementation of its Energy Efficiency Conservation Program for national government agencies on April 22, 2022.
According to DENR Acting Secretary Jim O. Sampulna, this achievement proves that the agency “continues to walk the talk in keeping up with the mandate of the department to mobilize our citizenry in protecting, conserving, and managing the environment and natural resources for the present and future generations.”
“Electricity consumption is one of the means by which the people can save electricity and reduce carbon footprint. It is, therefore, essential to show that the DENR has achieved this milestone to inspire Filipinos in doing the same,” Sampulna said.
The Energy Efficiency Conservation Program of the DOE is in line with a “collective strategy, which includes energy conservation to ensure sufficient supply of petroleum products amid the uncertainty brought about by the Russian-Ukraine conflict.”
Based on the Energy Efficiency and Conservation (EEC) checklist, the DENR CO has met all the criteria, namely institutionalization of EEC, fuel-saving measures, and electricity-saving measures, in the DOE’s random spot checks.
Administrative Service Director Rolando Castro said that the Central Office’s energy efficient measures can be traced to its International Organization for Standardization or ISO re-certification last March 2, 2022 for ISO 14001:2015 or Environment Management System or EMS.
“Activities that contributed to achieving these criteria include turning off lights and computers during lunch breaks or when employees are not using them, switching off air conditioning units from 4 p.m. onwards, among others. These are already being practiced by the DENR employees prior to the DOE’s instruction,” Castro said.
The DENR Central Office has been awarded with ISO 14001:2015 for meeting the requirements of office-based activities and services related to the agency’s mandate.
The Administrative Service also continues to enjoin the DENR employees in conserving the electricity through lectures and learning interventions conducted by the Human Resource Development Service and Strategic Communication and Initiatives Service.
