ILOILO City – The Iloilo City Government has set aside P25 million to install solar power systems in evacuation centers, iCARE facilities and other critical government buildings, a major disaster-resilience initiative aimed at ensuring emergency services remain operational during prolonged power outages caused by calamities.
Mayor Raisa Treñas said the renewable energy project is designed to protect frontline government services from disruption while also cutting the city’s long-term electricity expenses.
“We want to be prepared. We want to make sure that government services do not stop, especially during emergencies when our constituents need us the most,” Treñas said.
The mayor said priority will be given to facilities that serve as emergency response hubs, stressing that uninterrupted electricity is vital during disasters.
“Our evacuation centres, iCARE centres and other critical facilities should continue operating even if there is a power interruption. We cannot allow emergency services to be disrupted because of the lack of electricity,” she said.
Beyond disaster preparedness, Treñas said the investment is expected to generate long-term savings by reducing the city’s dependence on conventional electricity.
“Solar energy provides redundancy, but it also allows us to save on electricity costs. The money we save from our power bills can instead be redirected to programmes and services that will directly benefit our constituents,” she said.
Treñas added that the initiative forms part of Iloilo City’s long-term strategy to address rising power costs while improving energy security through renewable energy.
“This is an investment for the future. Energy prices continue to increase, and we have to make sure that our government facilities are resilient and sustainable. Renewable energy is one of the ways we can achieve that,” she said.
The city government is finalizing the list of facilities that will receive the first batch of solar installations, with the lineup expected to be completed next month before the project proceeds to bidding and implementation later this year.
Treñas said the long-term goal is to gradually expand solar power systems to more government-owned facilities, particularly those providing disaster-response and public health services.
“Eventually, we want more government facilities to shift to solar power, especially those that provide frontline services. This is part of our commitment to building a more resilient, efficient and environmentally sustainable Iloilo City,” she said.
Several city government facilities already utilize solar energy systems, including Iloilo City Hall, the iCARE Center in Taal, Molo, a police station, selected public schools, Early Childhood Care and Development Centers, the city dialysis center, and the Arevalo Public Market./PN
