A House lawmaker has suggested making one-hour power shutdowns a regular practice, similar to the annual Earth Hour, to help reduce electricity consumption and avoid shortages during the summer months.
Manila 2nd District Representative Rolando Valeriano made the proposal after noting that the recent Earth Hour observance on March 28 saved an estimated 145 megawatts of electricity.
“Tactical energy savings like this helps us avoid using power barges that consume bunker fuel,” Valeriano said.
He recommended implementing the measure regularly from April to May to ensure stable power supply and prevent blackouts during peak demand.
Alongside the proposal, Valeriano urged the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to fast-track approvals for e-taxi franchises, saying this would help cut oil consumption.
“Switching to electric vehicles can be hastened in April with the fast-tracked regulatory approvals of new fleets of e-taxis by both the LTFRB and LTO,” he added.
The lawmaker also appealed to the Bureau of Customs (BOC) to expedite the release of imported electric vehicles, noting the growing public shift to EVs amid rising fuel costs.
“The more electric vehicles on our roads, the more vehicle fuels saved. To keep current fleets of e-jeepneys on the roads, I suggest adding government subsidies and debt restructuring,” Valeriano said.
His proposals highlight both short-term and long-term strategies to manage energy consumption and reduce dependence on oil during the summer season.