ILOILO City – Energy conservation measures introduced amid the national energy emergency are saving the city government nearly P200,000 a month – for a projected P2.4 million annually – even before its planned shift to solar power begins.
Mayor Raisa Treñas-Chu said the savings resulted from measures adopted in March, including a four-day workweek and restrictions on the use of air-conditioning units and other electrical equipment in government offices and facilities.
The city government began implementing the measures after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. declared a state of national energy emergency due to the Middle East crisis.
Treñas said the conservation program would continue in compliance with Department of Energy (DOE) guidelines directing local government units to reduce their energy consumption by at least 10 percent.
The city’s measures are aligned with Memorandum Circular No. 114, which directs government agencies to adopt strict energy conservation protocols, and Executive Order No. 110, which places the country under a state of national energy emergency for one year.
Treñas clarified that the nearly P200,000 in monthly savings came solely from reduced electricity use and did not yet include any savings from solar energy systems, which have not been installed.
The city government is still finalizing the offices and facilities – including evacuation centers – that will be prioritized for solar installations.
It has allocated P25 million from its Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund for solar energy systems at selected sites.
According to Treñas, offices equipped with solar panels could reduce their electricity charges by about 30 percent to 40 percent.
The mayor was among the local chief executives who signed an agreement with the DOE supporting the Solar Solutions for Government: Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy in Public Buildings Program.
During the signing, Treñas said the city government would also expand the use of solar-powered streetlights to further reduce electricity consumption and carbon emissions.
“By investing in renewable energy today, we are creating long-term savings, strengthening energy security, and building a city that is more resilient to the challenges of tomorrow,” she said. (With a report from the Philippine News Agency)/PN
