Iloilo: The Department of Energy (DOE) is urging the public to be mindful of their power consumption this holiday season. In an interview on Monday, DOE Visayas Field Office chief science research specialist Lourdes Arciaga highlighted the current situation in Visayas, which has been on a yellow alert, indicating a very thin reserve margin.
According to Philippines News Agency, Arciaga emphasized that the festive season in December, with its Christmas lights and celebrations, can lead to increased power consumption. She appealed to the public to balance their usage by practicing timing and power scheduling to avoid overburdening the grid. As an example, she suggested reducing the frequency of ironing clothes or doing it early in the morning.
Arciaga pointed out that Panay, including Iloilo, is located at the end of the grid, with power sourced from either Luzon or Mindanao. Before reaching Panay, electricity must pass through Cebu, which has a higher consumption rate. She urged households and individuals to remain conscious of their energy consumption during the holidays, particularly as December is recognized as Energy Consciousness Month.
Data from the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines shows that the power demand in Western Visayas increased by 10.7 percent from 2023 to 2024. In response, the provincial government, through the Provincial Government Environment and Natural Resources Office-Energy Efficiency and Conservation (PGENRO EEC) Desk, organized a two-day forum starting Monday to celebrate National Energy Consciousness Month.
EEC focal person Rey Victor Garin stated that energy conservation officers from the 43 local government units in the province have been invited to share best practices regarding the government energy management program's implementation and accomplishments. On Tuesday, DOE resource persons will discuss renewable energy projects, the benefits for host communities, and the Energy One-Stop-Shop to facilitate project implementation.
Through the forum, Garin expressed the desire for local government units to embrace renewable energy projects and understand the processes involved.
