03 February 2016 – The Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi reports that the Philippines actively participated at the Sixth Session of the Assembly of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and the World Future Energy Summit (WFES) 2016, which form part of the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week. The Philippine delegation was headed by Department of Energy Secretary Zenaida Y. Monsada while the Deputy Head of delegation was Philippine Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates Constancio R. Vingno, Jr. The IRENA Assembly was held from January 16 to 17 at St. Regis Hotel, Saadiyat, Abu Dhabi while the World Future Energy Summit (WFES) 2016 kicked off its opening ceremonies on January 18 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre.

Apart from Secretary Monsada and Ambassador Vingno, the Philippine delegation was also composed of Assistant Director Marissa P. Cerezo of the Department of Energy – Renewable Energy Management Bureau (DOE-REMB), Third Secretary and Vice Consul Rowena Pangilinan-Daquipil and Attaché Meradel April E. Reyes.

The Philippines, for the first time, was appointed as Rapporteur at the beginning of the Assembly. The Assembly was the first international conference held post-COP 21 that was expected to help accelerate and identify measures that support the implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Climate Agreement. The event was participated in by 145 member countries, 30 states in accession and over 110 entities which had observer status. Prime Minister of Cook Islands Henry Tuakeu Puna gave a special address during the Assembly.

The Philippine delegation attended various segments of the Assembly, including two Ministerial Roundtables on concerted action towards renewable energy deployment, and mobilizing investment to accelerate the energy transition after COP 21, and the 2016 Financial Times-IRENA Question Time Debate. During the discussions, Secretary Monsada highlighted the potential of more renewable energy (RE) deployment in off-grid islands that require small but scalable projects. She further stressed the need to advance the commercialization of energy storage systems and hybrid technologies in ensuring the stability of the grid.

The delegation also graced the joint opening ceremonies of the World Future Energy Summit, International Water Summit and the Zayed Future Energy Prize on January 18 where distinguished speakers included President of Mexico Enrique Nieto and UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon.

The group also attended other side meetings of WFES 2016 including the Post Launch Meeting of the Global Geothermal Alliance (where the Philippines is a prominent member), and Forum on Transforming the Transport Sector: IRENA Technology Outlook for Advanced Biofuels. 

Assistant Secretary Benito B. Valeriano, and Director Edwin Gil Q. Mendoza of the Department of Foreign Affairs’ Maritime and Ocean Affairs Office (MOAO) joined the Philippine delegation at the Blue Economy Summit II, where sustainable management and security of oceans and seas were highlighted as critical for countries to continue to benefit from them in decades to come.

The WFES, hosted by Masdar, Abu Dhabi's renewable energy company, is the Middle East’s largest gathering on future energy and one that drives actionable solutions to the world’s energy challenges. WFES 2016, its eighth edition, attracted more than 30,000 delegates from 170 different countries, representing expertise from industry, technology, finance and government.END