(NI NOEL ABUEL)

IIMBESTIGAHAN ng Senado ang energy security plans ng Department of Energy (DOE) kung sapat ang supply ng langis sa bansa kasunod ng pag-atake sa pasilidad ng Saudi Arabian Oil Company’s (ARAMCO) kamakailan.

Ayon kay Senador Win Gatchalian, chairman ng Senate Committee on Energy, nais nitong matiyak na naghahanda ang DOE sa magiging epekto sa supply ng produktong petrolyo sa bansa upang hindi mahirapan ang mga motorista.

“The DOE, as the primary agency in charge of planning and implementation of comprehensive programs for the supply of energy, needs to inform the Filipino public about the effects of the Saudi ARAMCO attack on oil supply and prices in the Philippines,” ani Gatchalian.

“The DOE also needs to state its short- and medium- term plans and strategies to ensure continuous and sufficient supply and reasonable prices amidst strains in the Middle East, as well as its its long-term plans and strategies to achieve energy security in order to prevent vulnerability to supply shocks and insulate consumers from unexpected shortages and sharp price increases,” dagdag pa nito.

Tinitiyak ni Gatchalian na uusisain nito ang DOE officials sa nakatakdang pagdinig ng komite sa darating na Setyembre 23, 2019.

“The attack on ARAMCO eliminated about 5% of global oil supply and triggered a 12% increase in oil prices on September 16, which is reportedly the biggest jump since the 1990-1991 Gulf crisis,” giit ni Gatchalian.

Nababahala aniya ito na kapusin ang supply ng langis sa bansa kung saan mula Hunyo 2019, 99.9% ng crude oil sa bansa ay pawang imported kung saan 12 porsiyento nito ay nanggagaling sa Saudi Arabia.