Energy Undersecretary Loreta Ayson said recipients include elderly homes, members of the Association of Child Caring Agencies in Metro Manila, and other Department of Social Welfare and Development Accredited Centers, National Housing Authority projects, and other beneficiaries, such as local government units (LGUs) and government hospitals.
She added that there are also 50,000 CFLs on stock at the DOE premises to cover claims for warranties that apply to defects emerging from normal use of the product within the period of two years from date of acquisition.
Ayson said the 131,000 CFLs are valued at P7.2 million, while the other 50,000 CFLs have no commercial value. She added that there are only one million left out of the 2 million CFLs that are being distributed by the 33 electric cooperatives and two distribution utilities in Mindanao. The unique distribution methodology, according to Ayson, requires the swap of one inefficient incandescent bulb for every CFL.
At the same time, she said the recipients are required to present their electricity bills and commit to install them in their households.
The CFL exchange project aims to alleviate power shortage in Mindanao that was felt in the summer 2010. The 1 million CFLs distributed are expected to have reduced electricity demand by 50 megawatt, which translates to emission reduction of 34,492 tons per year.
Ayson said that the 15-watt CFLs that are being distributed last ten times longer and use about 75 percent less energy than incandescent bulbs.
Under the Asian Development Bank-funded $31.1-million Philippine Energy Efficiency Project, CFL distribution initiative aims to replace 5 million incandescent bulbs with CFL under the said project’s Energy Efficient Lighting Systems subproject.
(Paul Isla)
