Published March 4, 2019, 10:00 PM
With the intensifying global pivot
toward renewable energy to address climate change, the shift in developing
countries such as the Philippines is starting in the grassroots and community
levels. These communities of practice, while small in scale, serve as proof
that renewable energy is feasible and genuinely beneficial — and serve as
encouraging examples for other communities as well as the entire nation.
Recently, Negros Oriental is the
first province in the Philippines to institutionalize unequivocal support and
commitment to renewable energy sources through an annual commemorative local
government event.
Governor Roel Ragay Degamo recently
signed Executive Order No. 22-18 declaring Renewable Energy Day in Negros
Oriental every 5th of March. This follows a similarly groundbreaking executive
order signed last March 2018 declaring Negros Oriental as an
environment-friendly and clean energy province.
Negros Oriental is host to several
renewable energy power plants that generate clean, reliable power through
geothermal, solar, hydro and wind sources, contributing substantially to the
electricity needs of the Visayas region.
“Consistent with these directives
and ideals, the Province of Negros Oriental shall prioritize the utilization of
clean, renewable energy, which is abundant in the province; to continuously
protect and develop such renewable energy sources and, at the same time, shun
operations and activities including sourcing and use of energy sources that are
destructive to the environment and harmful to its citizens’ health and
livelihood,” the declaration stated.
“Such detrimental operations and
activities are primarily caused by the operation of power plants run by the
burning of fossil fuels such as coal,” it cited. The observance of the first
Renewable Energy Day in 2019 is seen as a culmination of a week-long
celebration in the province focused on increasing awareness and information
about renewable energy sources, engaging the public especially the youth in
pro-environment initiatives and causes, and showcasing the positive effects and
benefits of “greener” and reliable energy.
“Making my province, Negros
Oriental, as an environment-friendly and clean-energy province is one of the
toughest decisions I have made as governor,” Degamo previously stated in a
message at the 2018 State of Nature Assessment (SONA) organized by non-profit
environmental group Green Convergence in partnership with the Forest Foundation
of the Philippines and Energy Development Corporation (EDC) held in Baguio
City.
“I want to share our experience so
that it can serve not just as an example but an inspiration on how we can
achieve a cleaner energy future not just for individual communities but for the
entire country,” he stated.
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