The Cebu City Council is asking the Department of Energy, Department of Science and Technology and the Department of the Environment and Natural Resources to study the viability of a power generator invented by a Cebuano.
The council said the invention of Nono Camomot, which is powered by sea waves, may help address the electricity problem in remote areas.
Councilor Arsenio Pacaña, who sponsored the resolution, said that the concerned government agencies should make a thorough study on Camomot’s invention.
Camomot, a mechanical engineer from Borbon, won in the National Invention Contest in 2005 for his model of a power generator that uses sea waves.
Pacaña said Camomot’s invention extracts energy from the movement of sea waves through the up and down motion of a floater that allows the flow of mechanical energy into the power generator.
“Despite the meager budget of P500,000, the working generator model that he built in one of the beaches in Borbon reportedly produces 2.2 kilowatts of power enough to light up 22 lamp posts,” Pacaña said.
Pacaña said the usual lack of logistical and technical support from the government has always been pointed out why ingenious inventions by Filipinos in the past have not been fully utilized despite the great benefit it could bring to the country.
“Before this could be another wasted opportunity, it is imperative that agencies in government particularly the DOE should seriously look into the viability of the project,” Pacaña said. — Rene Borromeo/QSB