TAGUIG CITY, Jan. 22 -- The Department of Energy (DOE) underscored the crucial role of energy in spurring sustainable economic development in the country during today’s Philippine Energy Independence Council (PEIC)-European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines virtual forum on energy transition. With the theme, “Philippine Energy Transition: A Race through Economic Disruption, Technology Shifts and Innovation”, the forum featured discussions on how providing greater energy opportunities for the Filipino people could help the country attain energy independence and security. “There will always be a strong interrelationship between energy and economic development. Ensuring that we have sufficient, stable, and accessible energy supply and services to support progress, particularly our economic recovery efforts amid the COVID-19 pandemic, entails strong collaboration among all our energy stakeholders,” Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi said in his keynote message delivered by DOE Senior Undersecretary Jesus Cristino P. Posadas.