Inefficient electricity distribution outside of Metro Manila is the bane of residents and businessmen.
Supply disruptions and blackouts in the provinces are frequent occurrences that test the patience of consumers. Worse, electric cooperatives do not offer long-term solutions to justify their role as public service providers.
A recent study by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) summed it up: electricity supply interruptions are wreaking havoc on local economies.
“Blackouts are not just inconveniences; they are economic hemorrhages that drain local government coffers, stifle business operations, and compromise public services,” says PIDS.
The PIDS study urged cooperatives to embrace “a culture of truthfulness about their operational realities,” adding they must step out of the shadows of outdated practices and into the light of transparency and accountability.
ECs were also urged to shed their opaque operational habits and adopt more innovative and flexible management strategies.
“It’s time to acknowledge that the outdated infrastructure, lack of investment in renewable energy, and resistance to regulatory reforms are not just internal issues but are contributors to the economic bleed-out of the localities they serve,” the PIDS study said.
Electric cooperatives, perhaps, can start mending their ways by accepting the offer of Manila Electric Co. (Meralco), the country’s most technologically-advanced distribution utility. Meralco’s modern infrastructure can readily be used by electric cooperatives to power up the rest of the country.
Meralco senior vice president Arnel Casanova said for economic progress to move to the countryside, electric cooperatives have the option to work in unity with distribution utilities to bring electricity to the entire country in a 24/7 service that is reliable, affordable and sustainable.
He showcased the technological innovations that Meralco could leverage to help electric cooperatives enhance their capability to provide reliable and stable electricity.
These include the SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) systems that use predictive data analytics to ensure power is quickly restored or prevent power interruption.
“We are also upgrading our SCADA systems to help ensure that power is quickly restored if tripping occurs,” Casanova assured.
Meralco, in addition, invested in a 3.5-gigawatt solar plant in Nueva Ecija with a 4,000-megawatt battery as part of its grid modernization efforts.
It boasts of an advanced metering infrastructure to improve energy management and efficiency, with plans to deploy three million smart meters by the end of 2024. A Meralco mobile app is available to handle customer service concerns and help consumers monitor their electricity consumption.
Electric cooperatives can learn a lot from the best practices of Meralco, which is automating substations and distribution lines to ensure power reliability.
Having invested in electric vehicles, Casanova said the company is also looking at advanced battery technology, with projections to build 100 charging stations by the end of the year.
A safer environment
They may look like a scene from a science fiction movie but car-free metropolises—or at least portion of them—are not a far-fetched setting.
Cities across the globe celebrated World Car-Free Day on September 22, 2024, an initiative that encourages motorists to give up their cars for a day.
Here in the Philippines, the Climate Change Commission made a pitch during the occasion to all Filipinos to embrace sustainable practices, prioritize public and active transport and advocate for a cleaner, healthier and climate-resilient nation.
The capital Manila and a few cities in the capital region have proclaimed a portion of their territories car-free every Sunday from 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. The custom closes parts of major thoroughfares to allow residents to jog, exercise and bike.
The city government of Manila declared a stretch of Roxas Boulevard from Padre Bugoas Avenue to Quirino Avenue car-free every Sunday The 2.3-kilometer stretch of the boulevard offers two lanes for cyclists and one for joggers.
The World Car-Free Day, meanwhile, points out the benefits of going car-free to citizens—including reduced air pollution and the promotion of walking and cycling in a safer environment.
The World Carfree Network says the World Car-Free Day can be a showcase for just how our cities might look like, feel like and sound like without car—365 days a year.
European towns every year from September 16 to 22 showcase their commitment to clean and sustainable urban transport during the Mobility Week.
Car-free days, according to the United Nation Environment Program, are an opportunity for cities to highlight how congested roads can be used in different ways. From races for alternative-energy powered vehicles in Budapest, to horse-riding in São Paulo, to street picnics in Vienna, to running in Jakarta, cities and the people who live in them are stressing the alternatives to polluting vehicles on this important day.
The Philippine CCC said replicating car-free Sundays in other areas and integrating them into Metro Manila’s urban design would make the capital region a sustainable metropolis.
“The transition to car-free zones is a critical part of our climate agenda. Every step we take to reduce carbon emissions contributes to our collective fight against climate change. Creating sustainable cities is not only a necessity but a responsibility,” said CCC vice chairperson and executive director Robert E.A. Borje.
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