Provincial Board wants Capitol to use solar energy

In yet another step toward power conservation, the Provincial Board is supporting the use of solar energy in the buildings within the Capitol compound.

he Board manifested its support by approving a resolution authored by Board Member Christopher Baricuatro pledging “full support” on the alternative energy scheme.

The resolution says a huge chunk of public funds go to electric bills owing to high power consumption in the Capitol buildings.

“It has partly threaten[ed] the financial solvency of the local government of the Province of Cebu as it has eaten up [a] disproportionately large part of the province’s income,” the resolution reads.

The electric bill of the provincial government’s executive department alone reaches at least P1 million a month.

Instead of using energy generated from burning of fossil fuels, solar energy harnesses renewable power from the sun and transforms it into electricity. Power from the sun is captured through solar panels.

A solar panel sheet can cost about P5,000 and up to P30,000, depending on the wattage it can generate.

Normally, solar panels last for about 20 to 25 years.

Once it can put the panels in place, the Provincial Board also hopes to encourage other local government units to do the same.

“This endeavor signifies the drive of the Provincial Government of Cebu to lead by example all other local government units within the territorial jurisdiction of the Provincial Government to also install their own solar power energy system in their respective areas,” the resolution reads.

The use of solar energy was first brought up by Governor Gwendolyn Garcia during a weekly meeting with the province’s department heads last January 6.

At that time, the province was discussing minimizing the use of air conditioning at the Capitol offices. It was decided later that offices can use air conditioning three to four hours a day, depending on the time the sun hits their areas. —