USAID, Iloilo City LGU, and MORE Power to Create Local Energy Plan: The United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Iloilo City Government, and More Electric and Power Corporation (MORE Power Iloilo), to ensure power sufficient for incoming investors, have collaborated in creating a Local Energy Plan.
USAID allocated a total of 50,000 USD, through its Energy Secure Philippines (ESP) Initiative, to suffice the technical and financial needs of the metro as its pilot city. The US agency also coordinated with the RT International Research Institute to provide technical information and support to its pilot distribution utility, MORE Power.
To date, no office monitors the Energy Consumption and Energy Conservation in Iloilo City, as supposedly mandated by the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act of RA 11285. The law mandates local government units for its implementation.
Engr. Noel Hechanova, the Executive Assistant for Environment of Iloilo City, bared that the local government started creating the plan in 2004 but was not completed. The city has initially started its renewable energy and energy conservation initiatives such as providing incentives on real property taxes but few availed.
The USAID will guide the local government and stakeholders through a series of workshops focused on long-term energy conservation: Energy Efficiency Conservation Office, Local Energy Plan, Ordinance for the Local Energy Code, and EVOSS or Energy Virtual One Stop Shop.
“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 mga constituents namon 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,” states Engr. Hechanova.
Moreover, Engr. Niel Ravena, Acting Department Head of Iloilo City Environment and Natural Resources, shared that it is important to have data on the metro’s supply of power to address the energy needs of incoming investors.
“It is very hard for the city kung 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,” states Engr. Ravena.
“Very vital gid ang papel sang MORE in this endeavor kay ti sila ang distribution utility company nga naga serve diri sa City of Iloilo. So mayu gid kay naka start na kita sang partnership with MORE and USAID para maka jump off na ini nga mga projects”, he added.
MORE Power assured its cooperation in providing information such as load capacities and forecasting of demands to the city. It will also take a huge role in the technical working group of the local government for the creation of the Local Energy Plan.
The target completion date for this is five years. It will serve as a guide for investors who wish to expand business in Iloilo City and for the local government’s future plans.
