The government should consider installing solar-powered systems in social housing, barangay covered courts and other public-owned buildings.
Senator Risa Hontiveros made the suggestion as she urges the Marcos administration to fast track the country’s transition to renewable energy.
Hontiveros has filed Senate Bill No. 378, where beneficiaries of the government’s social housing program can avail of a solar home financing system as part of their loans which could be payable up to 25 to 30 years.
“The housing backlog is more than 6 million. Imagine if the current and new housing units to be built are installed with solar? Imagine our barangay covered courts powered by renewable energy. This is the kind of paradigm shift we need in the energy sector,” Hontiveros said.
She pointed out that those who have the capacity to install solar panels are those who are well-off and middle income families.
“Naiiwan ang mahihirap, gayong sila ang kulang sa pambayad at pagkukunan ng kuryente, lalo na sa mga relocation areas na pinagdadalhan sa kanila (The poor are left behind, when in fact, they are the ones who stand to benefit since they lack the budget to pay for electricity, especially in relocation areas where they are led to stay),” said Hontiveros.
Hontiveros cited the initiatives being undertaken by the Romblon Electric Cooperative (ROMELCO) in making renewable energy (RE) the mainstream in its energy mix.
She pointed out almost 40 percent of Romelco’s energy mix is from mini-hydro, wind, and solar energy.
Hontiveros also recalled how Romelco also has a 200kW rooftop solar installed in front of a rented barangay covered basketball courts in Romblon when she attended the cooperative’s virtual annual membership assembly.
“If Romelco can produce 200kW of solar power from 4 barangay covered courts, then we can produce millions more of kilowatt capacity assuming we solarize all the covered courts,” Hontiveros said.
Citing a 2019 media report, the lawmaker said there are at least 23,931 covered courts spread out all over the country.
“Making Romelco a model, solarizing these covered courts can generate 1,245MW or 1.2GW of solar power. At mayroon pa tayong (and we have) more than 60,000 na schools and thousands more of public buildings, including public markets and sabungans that can also be solarized,” explained Hontiveros.