Debt-saddled Manila gov’t asks employees to follow power-saving tips

Manila City Hall. INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — In the face of nearly-empty coffers and millions of pesos worth of unpaid electricity bills, the Manila government has urged its personnel to refrain from charging their personal gadgets at work or cooking in their offices using electrical stoves.

In a resolution adopted last week, the city council urged department heads at City Hall to institute measures to conserve electricity in line with Mayor Joseph Estrada’s call.

Authored by Councilor Numero Lim, the resolution advised employees to observe the following tips during their lunch break: Turn off all unnecessary lights and turn to the lowest setting the air-conditioning units, electric fans and coolers.

Aside from regulating the charging of personal gadgets and banning all forms of cooking using electricity, the resolution also prohibited the use of computers for personal purposes or the playing of games.

The Manila government inherited a huge electricity debt from the previous administration which was down to P485 million as of June 30, according to City Treasurer Liberty Toledo. The general funds left for the year, however, total just P235 million.