EDITORIAL - Cebu needs to produce more energy

To boost the present supply, there are moves to put up more energy projects in the province of Cebu. A few days ago, the Capitol received proposals to build power plants that would generate clean energy.

Last Wednesday, officials of Japan International Cooperation Agency presented to Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III their plan to build a solar power plant in the province. But JICA did not divulge details of the plan.

Prior to the JICA proposal, a company specializing clean energy resources, proposed to build windmills across the province. Amihan Energy Corporation identified barangays in Cebu City, Toledo City and Balamban town as areas for its projects.

Of course, Davide would welcome the two proposals. However, it is not yet known whether the proposals would work in the province considering the huge costs they entail as the province has never implemented such projects before.

But Davide is more than correct in saying the province is in need of more power sources. He lamented the fact that Cebu is always relying on energy sources from the neighboring province of Leyte.

Cebu's inability to feed itself with enough energy is now beginning to take its toll. In fact, when typhoon Yolanda devastated Leyte, where one of the world's biggest geothermal plants is situated, power supply to Cebu was greatly affected that resulted in rotational brownouts for more than a month.

So it's high time for Cebu officials to act before it's too late. Local authorities should begin exploring remedies to boost the province's energy generating capacity to achieve self-sufficiency in the coming years.

Although there are proposals to build more coal power plants across the province, there has been little movement for their realization because of strong opposition from environmentalists and cause-oriented groups.

Whether it comes from coal, the sun or wind, there's really a serious need for Cebu to have sufficient energy sourced from its own backyard. Given its status as the country's center of commerce outside Manila, Cebu should learn to produce its own energy sufficient enough to feed its industries.