Routes
The Metro Iloilo Development Council
I would like to share a part of my column space to an article submitted by the Iloilo City Environment and Natural Resources Office (Iloilo City ENRO) headed by my publicity shy but workaholic friend Engr. Noel Hechanova to the tMetro Iloilo Development Council (MIDC). Like many ciudadanos, I have heard about the MIDC long before, but did not really have a substantial understanding of what it is. I am now considering the necessity of mainstreaming with the mass media the activities of a very important development institution like the MIDC. I think that the people covered by this "inter-local government cooperative arrangement among the municipalities of Oton, San Miguel, Pavia, Leganes and Iloilo City to address growing urbanization in the region's capital of Western Visayas Philippines" and the things it has done since it was established on February 9, 2001. MIDC is chaired by Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas. I thank the very friendly MIDC people of Executive Director Jose Roni (Butch) Peñalosa and Assistant Executive Director (Ting-Ting) Cristina Octavio. I am giving my thanks to Ms. Tonnette and Ms Joie for the accommodation I did not expect. Once I cite persons publicly, I make sure that they really deserve it and that I do not waste valuable newspaper space and my time.
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Iloilo City lauded for anti-air pollution campaign
The Canada-based International Council for Local Environment Initiatives (ICLEI) has lauded the Iloilo City Local Government for its anti-air pollution campaign. This came after Iloilo City registered an estimated savings on fuel and electricity of almost P1 billion in 2005 from the early phases of Mayor Jerry P. Treñas' programs on traffic decongestion and energy conservation as part of Iloilo City's initiative to reduce Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emission.
According to Iloilo City Environment and Natural Resources Officer Engr. Noel Z. Hechanova, Treñas ordered the inclusion of the Greenhouse Gas Inventory and the Program on Climate Change Protection (CCP).
"The Perimeter Boundary Ordinance has improved air quality in Iloilo City. The restriction of provincial jeepneys at the city's boundary has reduced traffic congestion and avoided unnecessary trips, hence, unnecessary fuel," Hechanova reported.
Based on a 12-hour/day operation, 972 jeepneys have been restricted and this delivered a fuel savings of 9,225 liters per day and eliminated 24,418 liters of Carbon Dioxide for the same duration.
On lamp retrofitting, the conversion of incandescent and fluorescent streetlights to 1,060 units of the energy saving type High Pressure Sodium Lamps in 56 locations as of ICLEI assessment on December 31, 2005, 6,360 KWh every 8 hours have been saved and 3,777 liters of Carbon Dioxide every 8 hours have been avoided.
To advocate for the reduction of fuel consumption in all government vehicles based in Iloilo City, Hechanova said that the Iloilo City ENRO has conducted an inventory of fuel consumption of government vehicles for the year 2004 and this was completed on the second quarter of 2005.
Treñas issued Exective Order (EO) No. 51 in September 2005 to enhance and expand the city's program on fuel and energy conservation. The said executive order required all line departments of the city to adopt guidelines on vehicle maintenance, an accountability system for fuel and energy conservation, and lamp retrofitting and fuel switching in public buildings and vehicles.
For the year 2006, the other Iloilo City Local Government commitments are: 1) the completion of the Greenhouse Gas Inventory, which will include emission inventory of provincial buses and vans; 2) lamp retrofitting targeting an additional installation of High Pressure Sodium Lamps and measuring its results; 3) emission profiling of government vehicles, which will commence the advocacy on fuel reduction based on collated emission profiles starting with Iloilo City government offices and then with national government offices; 4) energy conservation in Iloilo City's public offices to pilot lamp retrofitting in selected departments and the consequent replication; and (5) the strengthening of the anti-smoke belching campaign by re-activating "Operation Blue Sky" in collaboration with the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and conduct measurement results using ambient air quality monitoring equipment.