The United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Iloilo City Government, and MORE Power teamed up to bring about a Local Energy Plan to ensure the sufficiency of electricity supply in Iloilo City for incoming investors. For the program, USAID allocated 50,000 US dollars. The amount will provide technical and financial support to Iloilo City as the pilot city, through its Energy Secure Philippines (ESP) Initiative. The USAID coordinated with the RT International Research Institute to provide the technical know-how and support in developing a modern facility to MORE Power, its pilot distribution utility. Presently, no office oversees the Energy Consumption and Energy Conservation in Iloilo City, which is supposedly the main objective of the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act or RA 11285. According to the law, the Local Government Units is mandated for its implementation.
Engr. Noel Hechanova, Executive Assistant for Environment of Iloilo City, stated that they started creating the plan in 2004, nevertheless, this was never completed. The city initially started its renewable energy and energy conservation initiatives by giving discounts on real property taxes to encourage businessmen and consumers. However, very few availed of it.
The USAID will guide the LGU and various stakeholders through a series of workshops in crafting long-term energy conservation plans. It will create an Energy Efficiency Conservation Office, Local Energy Plan, Ordinance for the Local Energy Code, and EVOSS or Energy Virtual One Stop Shop to provide the energy-based online situation of business and investment promotions of the City Government.
“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,” says Engr. Hechanova.
Per Engr. Niel Ravena, Acting Department Head of Iloilo City Environment and Natural Resources, it is important to have data on the supply of power in Iloilo City to cater to the 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,” stressed 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.”
Rightfully so, MORE Power ensured its cooperation in providing the necessary information to the city on its load capacities and forecasting of demands. To hasten the crafting of the Local Energy Plan, the company will also take a huge role in the technical working group of the city government. With target completion in five years, the plan will then serve as the guide for investors who wish to expand their business in Iloilo City and for further projects for the city government in terms of development.
