Cagayan de Oro sets energy-saving protocol amid Middle East tensions
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The city government joined the national government in implementing energy-saving measures to mitigate the effects of a possible fuel price increase brought by tensions in the Middle East.
On Friday evening, Mayor Rolando Uy issued Executive Order (EO) 102-2026-A directing all the city government's departments, including managed facilities and instrumentalities, to reduce their operational costs on fuel and electric consumption.
The EO cited the immediate adoption of the advisories of the Inter-Agency Energy Efficiency and Conservation Committee (IAEECC) and Memorandum Circular (MC) 114 issued on Friday by the Office of the President (OP).
"National Government Agencies and Private Institutions within the territorial jurisdiction of the City of Cagayan de Oro are highly encouraged to adopt the above-mentioned IAEECC advisories and take appropriate and significant measures to comply with the above-mentioned issuances," Uy said in the EO.
Under the IAEECC advisory and the Government Energy Management Program, all government establishments must reduce at least 10 percent of their energy consumption for their daily operations.
The measure to cut energy costs also adheres to Republic Act 11285, or the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act, as mentioned in the OP’s memo circular.
Under MC 114, government agencies were directed to adopt a four-day onsite work arrangement through a compressed workweek or a designated common day for work-from-home arrangements, in accordance with Civil Service Commission rules, to further reduce building energy load and transport fuel use among government agencies.
They were also instructed to maintain a standard thermostat setting of 24°C for air-conditioned spaces, activate sleep settings on all office equipment, and turn off non-essential lights and electronic equipment during lunch breaks and after hours.
They are also directed to adopt virtual meetings, limit official travel to essential and indispensable actions, and strengthen fleet-efficiency measures to reduce fuel consumption.
MC 114 likewise mandates them to minimize elevator use and adopt other appropriate energy conservation measures. (PNA)