ILOILO City – Soon this city will have its own Local Energy Plan geared at making sure the metro maintains a sufficient, stable and reliable electricity supply crucial in attracting more investors.
To realize this, the city government is linking up with MORE Electric and Power Corporation – the sole power distributor here – and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
Aside from a funding assistance of US$50,000 for the Local Energy Plan, the USAID will also provide technical support to Iloilo City as the pilot city of its Energy Secure Philippines (ESP) Initiative.
The USAID coordinated with RT International Research Institute, which will provide the technical know-how and support in developing a modern facility to its pilot distribution utility which is MORE Power.
At present, no office monitors the Energy Consumption and Energy Conservation in Iloilo City, which is supposedly the main objective of the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act (Republic Act 11285). The law mandates local government units for its implementation.
According to Engineer Noel Hechanova, executive assistant for Environment of Iloilo City, they started creating the plan in 2004, however, this was never completed.
The city government initially started its renewable energy and energy conservation initiatives like giving discounts on real property taxes to encourage businessmen and consumers but very few availed of it.
The USAID will guide the city government and various stakeholders through a series of workshops in crafting long-term energy conservation plans, creating an Energy Efficiency Conservation Office, Local Energy Plan, Ordinance for the Local Energy Code, and EVOSS or Energy Virtual One Stop Shop, which will provide the energy-based online situation of business and investment promotions of the City Government.
“In the first place, ang partnership naton with MORE is important to reduce ‘yung rate. We cooperate, we bring down the cost, we bring down the system loss. If we reduce that through energy efficiency nga mga programs, then it would benefit the city kag aton mga constituents kag mga konsumidor. Then we have to cooperate on energy efficiency and advocacy bangud kinahanglan namon ang other partners to help us promote this agud ma-reduce ang greenhouse gases emission naton,” said Engineer Hechanova.
According to Engineer Niel Ravena, acting department head of Iloilo City Environment and Natural Resources Office, it is important to have data on the supply of power in Iloilo City to cater to the needs of incoming investors.
“It is very hard for the city kun kulang imo nga supply, with the promotion sang atun very aggressive nga mayor sa atun nga investors, dapat ready ang energy source ta kag ang distribution utility para mag-accommodate sa masulod nga investors,” said Ravena.
He added: “Very vital gid ang papel sang MORE in this endeavor kay ti sila ang distribution utility company nga naga-serve diri sa city. So mayu gid kay naka-start na kita sang partnership with MORE and USAID para maka jump-off na ini nga mga projects,” Ravena added.
MORE Power ensured its cooperation in providing the necessary information to the city on its load capacities and forecasting of demands.
The company will also take a huge role in the technical working group of the city government to hasten the crafting of the Local Energy Plan.
The group targets its completion in five years.
This will then serve as the guide for investors who wish to expand their business in Iloilo City and for further plans for the city government in terms of development./PN
