Photo courtesy of PNP Public Information Office
THE Philippine National Police will go solar as the Department of Energy installs renewable energy generating facilities in some offices inside the police’s national headquarters in Quezon City.
Energy Secretary Jericho Petilla and PNP officer in charge Deputy Director Leonardo Espina signed on Monday the memorandum of agreement for the utilization of renewable energy resources through the installation of Solar Generation System in two Camp Crame offices.
The PNP Sports Center and Center for Law Enforcement Studies will be the sites for renewable energy generating facility, reducing more than P400,000 in their monthly electric bill and P5 million yearly.
The average consumption of the PNP every month amounts up to P12 million.
In a PNP statement, the DOE said the solar power to be generated for the two sites per year has a capacity of 600,000 kilowatts per hour, which is effective for 10 years starting from the date of its commissioning of the facility. The current kWh cost of Manila Electric Company (Meralco) is at P8.88.
“Our plan here is to drastically reduce the consumption here. They will also be protected from skyrocketing bills because the solar generating facility will reduce their energy consumption from Meralco,” Petilla said on the sidelines of the MOA signing.
Espina, for his part, told reporters that the installation of solar panels will help the PNP cut back on power use and save money on energy bills.
After the Camp Crame offices, Espina said solar installation will follow in police offices in the regions.
“We thank Secretary Petilla for this wonderful blessing. ‘Yung ginagawa nila sa [pulisya] will benefit us for a very, very long time,” Espina said.
The installation of Solar Generation System is provided for in Republic Act 9513, or the “Renewable Energy Act of 2008,” declaring a state policy to accelerate the exploration and development of renewable energy resources, increase the utilization of RE by institutionalizing the development of national and local capabilities in the use of RE, and promoting its efficient and cost effective commercial application by providing fiscal and non-fiscal incentives. AC