DOE Admitted It Is Behind Schedule in The Distribution of CFLs

WITH just over a month to go, the Department of Energy (DOE) has admitted it is behind schedule in the distribution of compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs). The DOE has until Oct. 31 this year to meet its goal to distribute 13 million CFLs under its Philippine Energy Efficiency Program (Peep). It said it is behind 18.56 percent in the distribution of free CFLs to residential consumers in Central Visayas, which was launched in 2009. The project is funded by a P31.1-million loan from the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The project encourages residential consumers to swap their incandescent bulbs for CFLs. It is implemented in partnership with different distribution utilities in the country. Savings CFLs are low-energy light bulbs that allow households to save as much as 80 percent on electricity consumption. While being energy-efficient, CFLs are 10 times brighter and last longer than incandescent bulbs. Under the DOE’s Peep, households can save as much as P400 a year when they use CFLs. But the Regional Development Council-Infrastracture Development Committee, chaired by Emmanuel Rabacal, discovered that the DOE does not have a facility to dispose of incandescent bulbs, which contain toxic matter that pose environmental and health risks. Engr. Rey Maleza, DOE supervisor, said the cost of disposal of incandescent bulbs is not included in the ADB loan. But he assured that DOE is looking for ways to safely dispose of the items. “We are very careful in disposing of the incandescent bulbs,” Maleza said. Rabacal said DOE should go to different villages in the region to help it meet its target. In Metro Cebu, DOE has an agreement with the Visayan Electric Company (Veco) for the distribution of about 250,000 CFLs to the utility firm’s 125,000 marginal customers. Veco opens the “switch to CFL” project only to its lifeline customers, or those who consume less than 100 kilowatt-hours a month. Rabacal said affluent families should also be encouraged to switch to CFLs or more energy-efficient lighting systems to reduce energy consumption and realize savings. Source: www.sunstar.com.ph