STABLE SUPPLY Regular maintenance of power lines assures households and businesses on Litex Road in Quezon City of stable electricity supply. The Supreme Court, in a decision on a 24-year-old case, says consumers of Manila Electric Co. must be given at least 48 hours before any power disconnection.
—NIÑO JESUS ORBETA
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Energy (DOE) asked households and businesses to conserve energy in response to a predicted El Niño phenomenon next year.
According to DOE Secretary Raphael Lotilla, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has appealed to Filipinos to conserve energy even if there is an ample power supply, especially during the summer months in which high temperatures will be intensified by the El Niño.
“President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has emphasized the need to expand and deepen the practice of energy and conservation to mitigate power demand. He appealed to Filipinos to conserve energy and create a culture of responsible usage of electricity as power supply projections may still change, even if we have adequate projection, due to extreme temperatures during the height of summer that will be exacerbated by El Nino,” Lotilla said.
“As we face the challenging period where we would need the support of everyone, we must therefore be conscious in our use of electricity,” he added.
The energy secretary likewise said that the Department of Health will be providing generator sets for hospitals in locations that may be affected by lapses in electric supply.
“In the case of the health sector, while the Department of Health will be providing generator sets for the government hospitals, there are also hospitals that are maintained by the provincial and local government units. The local government could help us identify these critical facilities for our efficient interventions,” Lotilla said.