RDC head pushes for W. Visayas as renewable energy model
Antique Gov. Salvacion Zaldivar-Perez on Wednesday called on other provinces in Western Visayas to make the region a model for renewable energy development and utilization.
"I vigorously urge our leaders in Region 6 to pursue with haste renewable energy. Let us all join hands in protecting this earth and pursuing our God-given gifts of renewable energy from the sun, wind, water, heat, and biomass," said Perez, also chair of the Regional Development Council.
Western Visayas includes the provinces of Iloilo, Antique, Capiz, Aklan, Guimaras and Negros Occidental.
Perez issued the statement in the capital town of San Jose in Antique during rites welcoming the first ever visit in the province of Rainbow Warrior, the flagship of the international environmental group Greenpeace. The trip is part of the Rainbow Warrior's "Quit Coal, Save the Climate" Southeast Asia Tour.
"Here in Antique, we have taken big leaps towards energy sufficiency that does not contribute to climate change and we further declare that the province of Antique will consistently and persistently advocate for renewable energy," said Perez in a statement delivered by Vice Gov. Rhodora Cadiao.
The province this month launched hydro power plant projects that will be be put in the towns of Bugasong, Tibiao and Laua-an. The 14-megawatt plants are expected to make the province self-sufficient in its power supply needs. The hydro power plants will be the first in Western Visayas.
The region is expected to suffer a major power supply deficit in the next few years because of its dependence on the Visayas power grid which gets most of its supply from the geothermal plants in Leyte.
Two coal-fired power plants are being pushed in Iloilo as a solution to the power supply problems but this have been opposed by environmental and church groups for their perceived threats to human health and the environment.
But Perez said the use of fossil fuel like coal has caused climate change which has severely affected many countries in the world including the Philippines.
"A major solution to climate change is the phasing out of energy from fossil sources, which are the biggest contributor to the problem. Coal-fired power plants account for 36 percent of the country's total carbon dioxide emissions," said Perez.
"The earth has provided us with renewable energy. It is time to harness this energy to generate electricity, and it is our aim to drastically and ultimately stop the use of fossil fuel especially coal as a source of energy," the governor added.
Greenpeace welcomed the governor's declaration.
"Gov Perez is setting a historic precedence with this regional renewable energy development model which can be replicated by other regions in the country. Greenpeace believes that real energy security and independence can be achieved through decentralized energy systems powered by renewable energy from the sun, wind, geothermal and modern biomass. Renewable energy sources can provide cheap, abundant and environmentally-friendly electricity to the entire country," said Von Hernandez, executive director of Greenpeace Southeast Asia, in a statement.