President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed into law on Tuesday the Renewable Energy Law of 2008, which will provide mechanisms to further harness "green" energy sources.
The law aims to "accelerate" the exploration of geothermal, hydroelectric, solar, biomass, wind, and ocean energy; and increase the utilization and development of renewable energy, according to a statement released by Malacañang.
"Now, with our Renewable Energy Act, we can move aggressively to develop these resources," Arroyo said in a speech before the signing.
"This is also timely, because it [renewable energy] mitigates climate change," she said.
The principal authors of the law Camarines Sur Representative Luis Villafuerte, Cebu Representative Raul del Mar, and Senator Edgardo Angara witnessed the signing, along with Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, Speaker Prospero Nograles, Senate Majority Floor Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, and the President's son, Pampanga Representative Juan Miguel Arroyo.
Arroyo signed the law hours after she arrived from Qatar, where she embarked on a four-day official visit.
