SBMA gets highest rating for energy conservation efforts

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT - After a solid performance as the country’s top investment promotion agency in the first semester this year, the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) gained another recognition when it received from the Department of Energy (DoE) a rating of five stars in energy conservation - the highest among all government agencies.

"You almost made it perfect," said Senior Deputy Executive Secretary Waldo Flores as he presented the results of the nationwide spot-checking on energy conservation measures to SBMA chairman Feliciano G. Salonga.

"You are currently holding the highest rating in energy conservation given to government agencies in the nine regions of the country," Flores added.

According to DoE energy conservation officer Vilma Hernandez, the SBMA obtained five stars, with the equivalent score of 94 percent or "A" Grade, during a spot check of all buildings of the SBMA.

The spot checks were made in August under the DoE’s Government Enercon Campaign in line with the Arroyo administration’s thrust to promote energy conservation with a mandated savings goal of 10 percent.

According to Flores, the SBMA’s actual conservation record is an average of 14 percent, or four percent higher than the requirement. "This actually means savings of about P13 million, which, as stipulated in Administrative Order 110, could allow the agency to finance the shuttle services for employees to help them also save up on transportation allowances."

The spot checking indicated that the SBMA administrative building alone was able to save 68,223.67 kilowatt-hours (kwh) for the month of July, a savings of 55.47 percent or P382,052.55.

DoE officials also observed that lights in SBMA buildings are being turned off during lunch break from 12 noon to 1 p.m. and that air-conditioning units in offices are turned on only at 9 a.m. until 4 p.m.

Moreover, room temperature in air-conditioned offices is maintained at only 27 to 28 degrees centigrade, against the recommended 25 degrees.

The DoE also noted that SBMA complies with directives to monitor fuel consumption for its vehicles, the use of trip tickets and dispatching system, and preventive maintenance schedule for each vehicle.

Following the receipt of the five star rating in energy conservation, SBMA administrator and chief executive officer Armand Arreza said the agency will encourage business locators in the Subic Bay Freeport to also implement energy conservation programs.

"The SBMA is proud of achieving an "A" Grade for being compliant with the government’s energy conservation program. After doing well in investment promotion when we recorded the biggest volume of foreign direct investments in the January-June 2006 period, this is another achievement that all SBMA employees can be proud of," Arreza told The STAR.

Arreza added that with the savings generated in energy conservation, the SBMA "can embark on more projects beneficial to the community and perhaps give additional bonuses to the hardworking employee of the SBMA."