Cebu City Hall is stepping up energy-saving measures, limiting air-conditioning units and adjusting elevator operations in government buildings as electricity costs threaten to rise.
Mayor Nestor Archival said Monday, March 9, that the city government has begun implementing practical measures to reduce power consumption while urging departments to monitor daily energy use more closely.
“Dinhi sa city government, naa tay department nga mag-monitor sa power requirements kada adlaw. Naa tay nabantayan nga minaog pero dili ingana ka substantial,” Archival said during a press conference.
Among the measures, air-conditioning units in government offices will temporarily shut down during lunch hours. The mayor said the approach had proven effective in the past.
“Like 12 o’clock sa air-conditioning units, 12 to 1 p.m. gipractice na before during the time nga nag-acting vice mayor ko. We were able to cut an amount of P80,000 per month,” he said, noting that the city hopes to achieve similar savings again.
City Hall is also adjusting elevator operations. Each of the legislative and executive buildings has two elevators, but one in each building will shut down earlier than usual to reduce power demand.
“Duha mani ka elevator sa legislative and duha ka executive. Ang ako, naay usa ka elevator musayo og off, ang mo-on 7 a.m. sa morning, mao at least maka-save sa power requirements,” Archival said.
The mayor acknowledged that the changes may seem minor but stressed that consistent small adjustments can add up over time.
“These are small things but it will count,” he said, adding that offices should turn off air-conditioning units earlier in the afternoon whenever possible.
“Sa offices, we encourage by 5 o’clock mag-off na ang aircon. If pwede one hour before, by 4 p.m., ma-off na,” he said.
Archival noted that some units in open corridors were still running late in the day, prompting instructions for earlier shutdown.
The city’s energy conservation efforts follow a Department of Energy warning that electricity rates could rise as much as 16 percent next month due to the ongoing global oil crisis.
Archival said Cebu City is still considering whether to adopt a four-day workweek in line with a national directive encouraging government offices to reduce electricity and fuel consumption.
“For now… dili una ta magpatuman ana,” he said, noting that he consulted business groups, many of whom expressed reservations about the idea.
The mayor said department heads are exploring options, including extending work hours on four working days.
However, offices providing essential services would continue operations even if a compressed schedule is implemented.
“Again, we cannot decide right now unsay buhaton sa City of Cebu, but we are monitoring sa uban nga provinces and cities unsay effect aning four-day work,” Archival said. (LLP)
Photo from Nestor Archival/ Facebook
