CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA) — Energy conservation, a habit of turning off lights or unplugging devices when not in use, and energy efficiency, the use of up-to-date technology such as LED lights and inverter air conditioning, are two things that, if combined, can greatly lower electricity bills, thus saving energy and money, said an official from the Department of Energy-Mindanao Field Office (DOE-MFO).
Engr. Virgilio B. Arzadon, senior science research specialist of DOE-MFO, shared in Talakayan sa PIA up close and personal at SM City CDO Uptown that the objective of the government is to instill a habit or natural way of life for Filipinos to save.
“Ang mga Pilipino kasi sabi nila mataas daw ‘yung billing nila, the more na dapat sila mag-adopt ng energy efficiency at conservation sa bahay nila kasi they don’t know baka pala ‘yung paggamit ng kuryente nila mali na or baka hindi lang sila gumagamit ng kuryente nila baka kapitbahay nila gumagamit na rin,” he said.
(The Filipinos, who complain about their high bills, often advocate for energy efficiency and conservation in their homes, unaware that their electricity usage may be incorrect or that their neighbors may also be using it.)
In the implementation of the Government Energy Management Program by DOE, Arzadon stated that every government office must have an Energy Efficiency and Conservation (EEC) policy and a designated EEC officer who is responsible for providing reports on electricity and fuel consumption. These reports serve as the basis for DOE’s spot-checks to assess the level of compliance.
“Actually, spot check is not to find fault sa kanila, but to help them realize ano pang potential savings na pwede nilang gawin para makuha natin ang target savings because every government office is required to have at least 10 percent savings,” he said.
(Actually, the purpose of a spot check is not to criticize them but to assist them in identifying additional potential savings. This is crucial, as every government office is mandated to achieve at least 10 percent savings.)
Arzadon revealed that the government has achieved cumulative savings of approximately 32,000 megawatts through the Government Energy Management Program, and has also saved approximately 573,000 liters of fuel.
As of the third quarter of 2023, the private sector had saved about 465 gigawatts of power, or P6.78 billion.
He also cited the impact of Earth Hour, an activity in which everyone turned off their lights for one hour in 2023 and 2024. The government was able to note big savings of 62.7 and 132 megawatts of power, respectively.
DOE also urged not only government or private institutions but also residential homeowners to buy appliances with yellow label certification that are energy efficient.
“We have this Philippine Energy Leveling Program to standardize the energy performance of each unit, where you will see in the mall items with yellow labels, so it means to say that that particular unit has undergone testing through DOE that it has passed and has met the minimum energy performance,” he said.
In April 2019, President Duterte signed Republic Act 11285, or the Energy and Efficiency Law, which covers all government and private sectors and lays out plans to increase energy efficiency and reduce consumption in the Philippines.
The Department of Energy will implement the law, which imposes responsibilities on other government bodies and gives the department various new mandates.
The act also mandates the Department of Energy to develop new performance and labeling standards, includes provisions for financial and other incentives, and promotes the provision of concessionary finance for energy efficiency measures. (JMOR/PIA-10)
