DOE allocates 70T CFLs for Cebu’s 6 districts

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Energy allocates a total of 70,000 compact fluorescent lamps to Cebu’s six congressional districts.

Based on the report released by DOE last Saturday, Cebu’s six districts namely the first, fourth, fifth and sixth districts as well as the north and south districts of Cebu City has an allocation of 70,000 CFLs.

However, records show that only 52,298 CFLs have been distributed.

The six congressional districts in Cebu were among the 104 districts together with 23 partylists in the country who submitted  to DOE the requirements of the CFL distribution under the Philippine Energy Efficiency Project.

According to Allan Bacudo, DOE Science Research Specialist II of the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Division in an earlier interview,  among the  sustainable benefits of CFLs include cleaner air and water, better waste management, enhance reforestation, reduced dependence on imported fossil fuels, rural development, employment and poverty alleviation.

Bacudo said that each CFL has at least 7-year lifespan in 3 hours of everyday usage and manufacturers provide 1 to 2 years of warranty for their product.

 Bacudo compared that for a 100watts incandescent bulb is only equivalent to a 20watts of CFL or a savings of 80watts.

DOE Undersecretary Loreta Ayson in a separate statement released by the Philippine Information Agency said that 3.6 million CFLs were distributed nationwide in partnership with the House of Representatives through its 200 congressional districts and 51 sectoral groups.

One of the key objectives of PEEP is the demonstration of the societal benefits of implementation of a series of energy efficiency projects in the commercial, residential and public sectors.

It likewise aims to reduce health risk associated with residual mercury and kerosene and to reduce the peak load power demand.

DOE’s PEEP is composed five components, namely: energy efficiency in government buildings, nationwide residential lighting program, public lighting program, energy efficiency testing and lamp waste management, efficient building initiative and communication and social mobilization. — (FREEMAN)