(Taguig City). As part of the efficient lighting initiatives under the Philippine Energy Efficiency Project (PEEP), the Department of Energy announces that household electricity consumers will have the opportunity to get free compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) starting September 22 until September 28 of this year.
The distribution will be made through the 188 congressional districts and 51 party list representatives, which have forged the Memoranda of Agreement with the DOE for the distribution of CFLs to their target beneficiaries.
Given an allocation of 10,000 CFLs per district, the distribution shall be on a first-come first-served basis, hence, consumers are advised to coordinate with their respective district representatives, particularly, the location of the claim centers. They are required to bring their most recent electricity bill to these centers to qualify for free CFLs.
On the other hand, the PEEP has also allocated about 1.2 million CFLs for the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). These will be distributed through DSWD’s National Poverty Reduction Strategy and Countryside Partnership, which aims to bring better products and services to disadvantaged individuals, families and communities for an improved quality of life.
Since 2009, the DOE has already distributed 5 million quality CFLs with 10,000 burning hours. These efficient lamps have, as envisioned, saved 223.56 million kWh/year or about PhP 2.24 billion in monetary savings. Another 3.6 million 14-Watt CFLs are up for distribution this year. For this batch, the country will eventually save another 82.78 million kWh/year reduction in electricity consumption equivalent to PhP 827.82 million and at the same time, reduce carbon dioxide emissions by as much as 44,702 tons.
The DOE has underscored the importance of energy efficiency initiatives not only for the present time but also in the long-run. Undersecretary Loreta G. Ayson, PEEP Project Director, said that “ this simple action of switching from incandescent bulb to energy efficient CFL, which also forms part of the Bright Now! Do right. Be Bright Campaign, will help reduce peak demand, thereby avoiding the use of expensive fossil-based power plants hence, reducing the average cost of power generation.”
Usec. Ayson also added that “ the use of efficient lighting in households will result to lower energy bills thereby stretching their budget for more important needs.”
The DOE, being at the forefront of sustainable development, and with the cooperation and support of stakeholders, energy efficiency and conservation will continue to be one of its major strategies in achieving energy security and independence as it pursues development of indigenous and cleaner energy resources.
