Promoting the use of indigenous renewable ‘clean energy’ sources and educating stakeholders on renewable energy use were among the goals of the just concluded two-day workshop sponsored by USAID on Thursday.

 

Asst. City Local Environment and Natural Resources Office (CLENRO) chief Elvisa Mabellin said the activity dubbed ‘Developing the Local Energy Plan (LEP)’ held at one of Cagayan de Oro City’s hotels is focused on prioritizing the use and development of indigenous renewable energy sources for City Hall’s programs including emergency response.

 

These include the hybrid use of both solar and diesel fed generators as backup power supply in identified evacuation centers (ECs) and the proposed installation of solar panel roofs in some City Hall offices as well as solar powered light posts in some city landmarks.

 

The two-day workshop also included the crafting of a communication plan aimed at promoting and educating stakeholders on renewable energy use as well as proposing amendments to the Local Energy Code to emphasize energy conservation and use of renewable energy sources.

 

Cagayan de Oro City is one of three City Development Initiative (CDI) recipients that received training from USAID for developing a local energy plan aside from the provinces of Romblon and Batangas.

The two-day workshop is sponsored by USAID under its Energy Secure Philippines (ESP) initiative in partnership with the Department of Energy (DOE). The activity is held a day after the 20th City Council voiced support for the national government’s efforts to reduce carbon emission in the country by year 2050.

 

But some councilors voiced mixed sentiments on a statement by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. (PCCI) for a ‘fair and balanced’ government approach on reducing carbon emission.

 

While Councilor Malvern Esparcia called on the council to support the PCCI statement, Councilors Edgar Cabanlas and Joyleen ‘Girlie’ Balaba advised that the council wait for the finalized version of House Bill 7705 or the Act Promoting a Low Carbon Economy and Establishing an Emission Trading System and Implementation Mechanism to Achieve National Climate Targets. (Stephen Capillas of City Information Office