AFTER 30 years of on-again, off-again effort, Congress has finally managed to create a law institutionalizing energy efficiency and conservation in the Philippines. The much larger and more important task of ensuring the law is followed and has a substantially positive impact now lies ahead.

On Thursday, the Bicameral Conference Committee approved the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act, the reconciled version of Senate Bill 1531 and House Bill 8629. Once signed into law, the measure will create an institutional framework at different levels of government to promote energy conservation practices in the Philippines.