2 Renewable Energy Proposals for Cebu

2 private entities have sought permission from the Department of Energy (DOE) to put up renewable energy sources in Argao and Toledo City, Cebu. Lawyer Marissa Cerezo, DOE Renewable Energy Management Bureau assistant director, said the department is evaluating the application of two investors in wind energy resources in two areas.

“The applications (of investors) are under evaluation for legal, technical and financial requirements,” she mentioned. She said investors have 30 days to fulfill all requirements or be disqualified.

Based on DOE Data, as of 2010, the country has a total renewable energy capacity of 5,400 megawatts (MW). The bulk of this comes from geothermal, biomass, solar, wind and hydro power. “Under the renewable energy program, we plan to triple the current capacity in 2030 or at least 15,000 megawatts nationwide,” she said. Eduardo Amante, DOE energy resource development and utilization division chief, said there are two solar power sites in Badian that produce a total of 750 Kilowatts. In Bantayan Island, wastes from poultry and pig farms are converted into biomass energy.

Energy from Biomass sources, however is only two kilowatts, said Amante, which is only enough for the farm owner’s energy requirement.

The Ginatilan municipal government on the other hand, is planning to develop renewable energy sources in its area and is gathering data to prove the feasibility of the project. Solar power potential sites were also identified on Camotes Island and at the Mactan Ecozone. In 2008, the DOE launched a program for the two-year development of a renewable energy database and enhancement of technical expertise of stakeholders.

Last year, it started implementing a five year project to promote renewable energy. The project includes the development of ocean energy from 2015 to 2030. “We are checking potential renewable energy sites in the Visayas. We have an aggressive plan to conduct a massive information and education campaign for stakeholders and probable investors.”

Painting Roofs white can fight sun’s heat

Students identify a strategy to reduce cost of cooling buildings. Adapting to Climate Change can be done at home, using a paintbrush and white paint. Three biology students from the University of San Carrlos are leading a campaign to paint house roofs white to reduce heat in the surroundings. With the support of the Cebu City Government and Smart Communications Inc., the project was launched last Friday in barangay Luz, Cebu City which serves as the project’s pilot area.

While roofs on residences and commercial buildings can offer big benefits with regard to cooling, energy costs and air quality, said Kimberly Lucero, one of the project proponents.

Dubbed “Painting Roofs White for a Greener Tomorrow: A Response to Climate Change,” the project started as a proposal that won in the Youth Climate Change Project, which aims to make students develop household solutions to global warming.

Initiated by the Siliman University, the Youth Climate Change Project is funded by the World Bank and Smart Communications. “This student project is something that we can do in our won homes. We are very happy to be part of this experiment which, if proven effective, can really make a big impact among communities,” said lawyer Jane Paredes, Smart Visayas-Mindanao public affairs senior manager.

Borg dela Serna, a project volunteer said that 40 to 50 houses in barangay luz will have their roofs painted white using an environment-friendly and toxic free paint provided by NVIRO paint.

“The offset provided by the combined cooling of roofs may provide a significant delay in global warming, during which we can take further measures to improve energy efficiency and sustainability, therby mitigating climate change,” read the project proposal of Lucero, Geraldine Cercado and Ferdinand Zapata. They said painting roofs white is a “sustainable and cost-effective strategy against global warming.”

“We have embraced the idea that buildings can be designed or modified in such a way to directly combat global warming.” White roofs they pointed reflect up to 80 percent of sunlight, while dark-colored-roofs reflect only 10 to 20 percent. They also cited studies that show that on a global scale, if roofs in all urban areas are painted white, global temperature would drop by 0.6 Celsius.

Road Revolution Petition

Shown below is the Road Revolution Petition for the upcoming Cebu Road Revolution which is to be held this coming June 12, 2011 - Philippines Independece Day; in line with that, we seek Freedom from Pollution!

Atty. Antonio Oposa, Jr. giving a short lecture on what will happen during the Road Revolution Cebu

A PEOPLE’S PETITION

TO REFORM THE ROAD SYSTEM

“Those who have less in wheels must have more in road.”[1]

To the Sangguniang Panlungsod (Bayan) of ______________

Dear Members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod __(or Bayan – if municipality)

We, Children and Registered Voters of the City of Cebu, hereby declare that that we are tired of the chaos, accidents, air pollution and injustice that prevails in the road system of the Philippines. The bias of the present road system for individualized motorized vehicles has caused and will continue to cause tremendous road congestion, serious air pollution, deadly accidents, waste of space, fuel, water, and public space for the convenience of a few, at a great cost to all.

It is time to turn this around.

For this purpose, we, the Filipino People, hereby initiate this Petition to promulgate a local ordinance to reform the existing road system. We ask that an ordinance be passed to convert all existing roads within our City to favor people instead of favoring motor vehicles. After all, towns and cities were made for people, not for motor vehicles.

For this purpose, we respectfully request that the existing roads be divided longitudinally into four parts:

All-weather side-walks and pathways — 30%

Bicycle lanes — 30%

Filipino-made collective and non-pollutive

transportation systems — 30%

Greenbelts for edible gardens — 10%

The ideal situation is depicted in the image below.

An efficient and effective transportation system will provide the constituents of our good City with a healthy and orderly alternative to the existing transportation system.

To support this initiative for local legislation, we hereby submit to your good Office the signatures of the voters of our good City pursuant to Law. We are joined by our children and grandchildren — many of whom will soon be of voting age – who are the most vulnerable to the dangerous conditions of the roads and to the worsening quality of the Air.

This People’s Petition is hereby submitted pursuant to Sec. 120 to 127 of the Local Government Code (Republic Act 7160).[2] Further, Executive Order 712 (2008)[3] and Executive Order 774 (2008)[4] call for the reformation of the road system to favor non-motorized, environment-friendly, and collective transportation systems.

Thank you in anticipation of your kind and expeditious action on the matter within the period provided by Law.[5] We look forward to working with you, your planners, and legislators to flesh out the details of our proposal. We trust that this letter finds you in good health and spirits.

Citizens of the Philippines

and

Residents of the City of Cebu

_______, 20__

Date filed

C:\Users\Tony Oposa Jr\Desktop\TRANSPORTATION REVOLUTION\FINAL DRAFT OF PETITION Road-Revolution 4rd Draft (AO) Nov 2, 2010.doc



[1] Paraphrase of a line from beloved President of the Philippines, circa 1950s who said that, “Those who have less in life must have more in law.”

[2] Sections 120-127 of the Local Government Code gives voters numbering 100 for municipalities and 1,000 for cities the power to submit a petition to the local council to propose legislation.

[3] Sec. 3 of Executive Order 712 (2008) states: The DOTC shall establish as National Land Transport Policy Framework, which shall facilitate the modernization of the land transport industry through the promotion of utility services which are environment-friendly and shall provide assistance to the land transport sector through lease-to-own programs, technical assistance, subsidies, and the encouragement of the use of alternative fuels and/or renewable energy, among others.

[4] Sec. 9 of E.O. 774 (2008) states: Task Group on Fossil fuels. – (a) To reduce the consumption of fossil fuels, the DOTC shall lead a Task Group to reform the transportation sector. The new paradigm in the movement of men and things must follow a simple principle: "Those who have less in wheels must have more in road." For this purpose, the system shall favour non-motorized locomotion and collective transportation system (walking, bicycling, and the man-powered mini-train).

[5] Sec. 120 (b) of R.A. 7160 states: If no favorable action thereon is taken by the sanggunian concerned within thirty (30) days from its presentation, the proponents, through their duly authorized and registered representatives, may invoke their power of initiative, giving notice thereof to the sanggunian concerned.

Stakeholders pose with the Signature Campaign documentation

Atty. Oposa of Law of Nature Foundation, Vince Cinces of 350.org, Atty Gloria Ramos of Philippine Earth Justice Center (PEJC), Atty Rafael Yap, acting Department head of CITOM, Shari Gonzales, Youth, Atty Tara Rama, Sec-Gen for Road Revolution with Mr. Brian Yuson of Saint James Academy of Skills Technology, Inc..shown above image.

You can download the petition here: http://roadrevolution.ph/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/PETITION-Road-Revolution.doc

"Those who less in wheels, should have more in road."

Cebu Road Revolution 2011

Road Revolution: Filipinos' Declaration of Independence from Air and Traffic Pollution will be held on June 12, 2011. Walk, Run, Skate, Bike as long as it doesn't pollute. The Road Revolution will be along Osmeña Boulevard, Cebu City ~ 6am - 6pm.

The Road Revolution: Filipinos' Declaration of Independence from Air and Traffic Pollution will also have a petition signing! Together let us campaign for sidewalks, bike lanes and collective transportation system in Cebu City!

Freedom walk/bike will kick off at 5am from Cebu Provincial Capitol to Plaza Independencia-and then a Mass and Ceremonial Turnover of the petition will follow at the Plaza Independencia.

Make your stand and be part of the Road Revolution!

Barangay seeks to convert lot into green space

Officials of Barangay Luz in Cebu City asked the Capitol for permission to develop a vacant provincial lot into a park and playground. In a letter to Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale, Barangay Captain Rian C. Tante said the barangay has no other open space except for the provincial lot at the back of the Pag-ibig building in Sitio Sto. Niño3. It covers 1,948 square meters.

Tante’s letter was referred to the committee of provincial and municipal properties headed by Provincial Board (PB) Member Alex Binghay.

The PB took up the matter in its session the other week. Binghay’s committee will submit its recommendation to the PB during the next session. The project will include an eco-park that will be named after Gov. Gwen Garcia. It will also house a waste conversion facility, a children’s learning center and a youth entrepreneurship center. Tante said the project is part of the barangay’s clean and green program.

He said they will present the entire program of works to the governor if the Capitol gives them the go-ahead. Tante said it has been the dream of the barangay to have its own park and playground. Parks and playground or any other green space will provide children with opportunities for fun and play.

Ensuring the youth’s physical health and mental alertness will have a resounding impact on the barangay’s development. “We are again knocking on the good heart of our Cebu Governor that the local government of Barangay Luz shall be allowed to develop and utilize the site,” an excerpt from the letter.