Sustainable energy pushed in Green Economy Summit

CEBU, Philippines - Practical renewable and sustainable energy solutions were proposed for a new green economy through an alliance between the local government units and private sectors during a recent summit.

Kaira Alburo, executive director of the Project-Research Group for Alternative to Development, challenge Filipinos to be more conscious of the effects of global warming and climate change in the near future.

Alburo also challenge local executives present to practice “participatory governance” towards a greener and sustainable economy for everyone.

She said their message is very simple and that is to promote a “Green Economy,” a framework slowly emerging following concerns on the adverse effects of global warming and climate change on the global populace.

“Not all investments are good investments,” warned Alburo, referring to high-cost investments intended supposedly for economic improvement which in the long run contributes more to natural resources depletion and imminent destruction.

She said that local executives should look into drafting policies contributing towards a “green society and economy” which in turn will develop into a society relying on green renewable and sustainable resource.

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama, in his welcome address, describing it as a big challenge for the generation. 

“Renewable energy is not new. This has been here for so long but few are taking it by heart…but at the end of the day, we just have to gather all around and consider this concept with more intense vigor,” Rama said.

Meanwhile, Professor Maria Amparo Montenegro said that a green economy here is not an impossible feat.

However, Montenegro warned that current green efforts from the government and the private sector are not enough to compete with the traditional “unclean” sources of power in the country. According to Montenegro, concerns for renewable sources for power started in the early 1970s where it drastically increased over the years, but they are still not enough to compete with the traditional fossil fuel and coal power plants.

With the possibility of a green economy overhaul, Montenegro proposed for the lessening of fossil fuel consumption through taxation, regulation, and other relevant actions to make green energy competitive with the traditional carbon emitting resources.

Department of Energy Undersecretary Aina Magpale-Asirit said that the department has given high priority on newer greener energy resources following new potentials and ideas.

According to Asirit, the department is eying an additional fifteen ocean thermal sites and eight ocean tidal energy sites for future development securing energy supply throughout the country. 

In addition, the department has also planned to invest into a new form of green resource through deep ocean energy by placing energy generating turbines on the seafloor to harness energy from the strong deep sea currents.

Asirit also assured the public especially in the Visayas area that there is no shortage of power supply in the region, adding that the region can even send its surplus energy during non-peak hours to Luzon.

However, with the current economic and industrial growth of the region, energy requirement since 2008 has increased drastically until today. But she however assured that even with the current raise in demand, the department is continuing its search for more and greener sources of power for the region.(FREEMAN NEWS)