ASOG holds Virtual Kapihan on Energy Democracy

The Ateneo School of Government held its quarterly Master Class Virtual Kapihan on the topic "Energy Democracy: Players, Winners, and Losers of Sustainable Energy Transitions in Southeast Asia" on July 10, 2021.

The event featured a panel of international experts and began with a talk on perspectives on energy democracy by Mr. Rizky Aditya Putra MSc and Ms. Monika Merdekawati MSc, regional experts on renewable energy from the Jakarta-based ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE). Joining the panel of experts was former Chairperson of the National Renewable Energy Board Atty. Monalisa Dimalanta and guest faculty of the ASOG Master in Public Management Energy Transitions track, and Dr. Mary Ann Quirapas-Franco, research fellow at the Energy Studies Institute of the National University of Singapore.

The panel of experts discussed the importance of energy democracy in achieving energy transitions toward sustainable and inclusive development. In her opening discussion, Dr. Quirapas-Franco defined energy democracy as "a process that merges the clean technological solutions with the political, economic, social and cultural transformation of energy systems with increased participation from end-users and marginalized groups."

Energy experts from ACE, Mr. Putra and Ms. Merdekawati, emphasized the need for training and capacity building of communities to encourage greater participation. Meanwhile, speaking as a true educator, Atty. Dimalanta challenged the ASOG students to go beyond the technical know-hows of sustainable energy transitions and to explore the otherwise subdued but equally relevant aspects of energy transitions. Meanwhile, ASoG students posed questions relating energy security to national security, long-term impact assessments of renewable energy sources, and the roots of expensive end-user electricity prices. 

The ASOG Master Class Virtual Kapihan is a quarterly event organized exclusively for the faculty and students of the Ateneo School of Government.