A couple of days ago, I was watching a news report about two deaths in the country as a result of the intense summer heat. Imelda Lingan was a resident of Tuguegarao, a middle-aged woman who was already suffering from hypertension, who didn’t take her medication regularly, then died from complications resulting from her condition and the extreme weather condition. Vanrick Ray Gallardo was a 16-year-old boy who collapsed while playing basketball then died. We’re just a few days past the middle of March and temperatures have soared to 37C. And, as it happens every year, the days will get hotter and more humid as the summer wears on.
We live in a tropical country and you’d think that those who grew up here would be fully adapted to the heat. I grew up here but the heat still makes me curse in three languages. And, occasionally, I get physically ill. It’s more than a matter of getting used to. In the old days when houses were fewer and air flowed naturally, there was no need for airconditioners. I grew up without one in a neighborhood where houses were comfortably set apart from one another. Today, in the average urban neighborhood, houses are like sardines in a can, the natural flow of air is impeded and the heat from the galvanized iron roofing is enough to fry eggs on.
I don’t understand why, some say it’s a matter of economics, but the average architect seems unable to design houses and buildings that are attuned to our tropical climate and environment. While high ceilings, insulated roofs, and high and wide windows were standard features of old houses, they are not included in standard designs today. And not all architects will advise clients that they have the option of having solar panels installed while their houses or buildings are being built.
Then, there’s the matter of urban planning. Was there ever one for Metro Manila?
And so, we live with the heat – the combination of natural tropical climate, a swelling population, bad house designs and non-existent urban planning. And we try to deal with the heat with airconditioners that consume electricity like a perpetually thirsty hippo. In her old age, my mother is hypertensive, she takes medication and now lives in a fully-airconditioned house. Lucky that she can afford to pay her horrendous electric bills. What about hypertensive patients that cannot afford airconditioning at home?
Even with families that do not find airconditioning a necessity, paying electric bills is a struggle. Electricity is a very high-priced, but essential, commodity in modern life and the rates in the Philippines are higher than in most of its Asian neighbors. Ideally, its production and supply should be state regulated to protect consumers from abuses. But this is the Philippines where fuel companies are god and monopolistic Meralco is lord. Not for long, hopefully.
You’ve probably seen, or at least heard of, the windmills of Ilocos (this is not an ad nor endorsement, paid or otherwise, for Bongbong Marcos). If you’re a fan of the Discovery Channel, you might have seen the show that featured contraptions installed under the sea that move with the current and the constant movements generate power. Then, there are solar panels. Wind, water and sun, all natural generators of power, and all of which the Philippines has an abundance of. The thing is, the natural powers of wind, water and sun must first be transformed into usable energy. And that will require money.
So now we come to the Renewable Energy Law of 2007 (this is not an ad nor endorsement, paid or otherwise, for Dick Gordon) with its incentives to attract foreign investors. It has its supporters, it has its critics and I have my reservations.
From experience, I know that foreign investments do not necessarily do us good. Two reasons. First, foreign investors bring in minimal capital by generating the bulk of the “foreign investment” via local financial institutions. Second, to comply with the Constitutional prohibition against ownership of public utilities, a foreign investor will have go into 40%-60% partnership with a domestic company. If the local partners are just going to be none other than the same-old, same-old capitalists (including the owners of Meralco), then, we can be sure that the price of electricity will not go down substantially. And when we talk of billions, who else but the big traditional companies can afford to put up the 60% share in the capital? The actualization of the Renewal Energy Law might make the environmentalists happy but, for us consumers, bottom feeders in the capitalist chain, it won’t necessarily mean affordable energy.
Still, in these desperate times, it might be worth giving the Renewable Energy Law a chance. Stricter regulation (a.k.a. less corruption in government) might prevent investors from defrauding us. There might be new local players that can put the traditional monopolies at bay. You might be among them. If you are, you might like to attend an event to which I have been Invited. In a nutshell, it says:
All of these: technology sourcing, finding of potential investment partners, sharing of experience and exploration of business opportunities in the whole of Asean will be presented at a seminar on ‘Opportunities in Renewable Energy.’ The presentation is a preview of the full exhibition, Renewable Energy Asia, set for 2-5 June 2010, in Bangkok, Thailand.
We wish to invite you and your organisation to this presentation to be held on 27 April 2010, 3-6 pm, Makati Shangri-la Hotel. Please accept our complimentary welcome drinks, coffee break and a networking cocktail after the seminar.
The seats are limited so please confirm your attendance per email (raquel.erhard@gmail.com) or call/text 0915-3305977.
I've been itching to write a proposal for the University I attend to seriously consider using solar panels in order to augment our electricity needs thus preventing increases in school fees. Hopefully, they'd consider the idea seriously.
The initial cost will be enormous so it's likely that the school will pass it on to the students. Initial cost doesn't get passed on only when it applies to something that the owner himself will use, as in the case of residential homes.
One solution, I think, is for schools that voluntarily install solar panels be given additional incentives (although the way that many schools have become abusive with their capitalist priorities, it's still possible that they will charge the students extra anyway).
The best route for both residential and business offices should be solar panels. Even in the US where electricity is affordable, people have seriously considered solar energy since it is lifetime and cost effective.
Filipino small enterpreneur should grab the solar energy sector. You don't have to be big to be in the business. An electrician or engineer with solar panel training can do the job and materials can be sourced online.
In the US, solar energy is done by small independent contractors.
Actually this is the next thing to bottled water in terms of business opportunity. Just imagine how many households in the Philippines that will be installed with solar panels.
For solar users, you will be looking forward to the days when your initial investment is complete paid up (equivalent amount in electric bills for years) and enjoy uninterruptible supply free. In the US, electric companies pay solar panels owners for excess capacity that were channeled back to the gridlines.
My husband works on generators and he plans on putting up one to help the community in the Phil. We dont have the concrete plans and details yet but we'll cross that bridge kapag malapit na kming umuwi ng Pinas. He said its really ridiculous that the Philippine government doesnt encourage solar panels since lagi nga mainit dyan. He also found this air conditioning that uses solar panels to operate. I think it would be great for the Philippines.
wow! air conditioning that uses solar panels…
kudos to your plans of coming back and contributing to the improvement of the communities in the Philippines!
mabuhay po kayo!
"same-old, same-old capitalists"
Are there any powerful families in Pinas who really care about the environment and/or the commoner's welfare?
Malamang wala…
Sure, there are — but only during election season when a family member is running for public office.
If I remember correctly, dito ko nabasa yung may sabwatan ang Meralco at Customs na pag may mga tao na magpapasok ng mga materials that will directly compete with their service (i.e. solar panels), either iba-ban nila yung iuuwi mo or ico-confiscate nila.
I'm here sa Tuguegarao ngayon. Yup. The heat here is overwhelming. 2 weeks ago nung pumalo yung temp dito na 47 degrees, grabe ang daming nagcollapse due to heat exhaustion. Nakakadismaya din ang ilang surroundings, pati na din yung ibang areas enroute to Tugue and Isabela(malamang similar scenarios naman pag papuntang provinces e). Yung mga palayan nagtutuyuan. Walang tubig. Yung ibang mga daan, walang poste ng ilaw. Walang sidewalk. Substandard housing. And the list goes on.
This is what our politicians represent, no one is exempted.
Every candidate already had a chance to do good, now they all seek a higher position "to do good"? Again? Do you really need that high position to improve the lives of the Filipinos? May silbi ba ang MAJORITY ng Congress natin. WALA. Senators? SAME ANSWER. What we need are concrete solutions (no pun intended). Not "Hindi pa tapos ang laban, ipagpapatuloy ko…". Ipagpapatuloy ang ano? Eh Yung Hacienda Luisita nga walang nangyari eh, maging presidente pa kaya siya? Villar? Sundin niya na lang sana ung sinabi niya na magnegosyo na lang siya. Greening of Las Pinas City is a failure. The heat there is also unbearable, mas ok pa sa Quezon City.
Oh, and f**k Bayani. He has the galls to run for VP when he made Edsa traffic from bad to worse. Niluwagan mo ang kalye only to put loading stations IN THE MIDDLE OF EDSA. Either that or those godforsaken loading stations occupy nearly HALF of the highway. Eh 'di walang nangyari… oh and there are no pink and blue infras in Singapore. My sensei (who IS Singaporean) attests to that so…
I'm sorry it got a bit out of hand. After all, I'm starting to become an "Old Boy". Maganda yung mga nakapost na suggestions dito. I saw a good housing design sa Japan, yung 9-point Housing (9-tsubo). Search niyo na lang sa net kung ano yun but I tell you it is good. Adjustable pa yung walls kaya you can create space whenever needed. Yun ang isa kailangan din natin dito lalo sa provinces. Dagdagan mo pa yun ng solar panels (like in Japan)…
I hope that the youth of today and other sensible people take into consideration the true face of our problems. I challenge everyone in the city to go sa provinces to take a good look. Nakakaiyak. Nakakadismaya. Hindi solution ang umalis sa probinsya para makipagsapalaran sa Manila. I'm from Manila and I HATE IT THERE. The provinces are the key. Alam naman natin lahat what it will all boil down to. Province improvement=hindi congested na Manila=NO ONE NEEDS TO LEAVE THEIR FAMILIES.
I'm sorry it got a bit out of hand. Let's go back to our regular programming…:D
"If I remember correctly, dito ko nabasa yung may sabwatan ang Meralco at Customs na pag may mga tao na magpapasok ng mga materials that will directly compete with their service"
Yes, it was a comment from an old entry.
"I’m sorry it got a bit out of hand."
No need to apologize. In face, thank you for the additional context to the topic — because, yes, energy IS A POLITICAL ISSUE.
I read it here too and told my husband about it. So that will be a major concern for us when we want to introduce solar panels in the Philippines. That will be really tricky. Also, we believe that we dont have to be a politician to help people…mas mkakatulong ka nga ng maigi kapag private citizen ka.
of course everyone, incl those in the govt knows, the benefits of using solar panels. but not everyone, incl those monopolizing the power sector, will benefit. as a matter of fact, these people stand to lose if everyone began using solar panels, or other similar alternative.
no wonder solar panel distributors do not get any support from the govt.
i know a company that tried to import solar panels for distribution here. sa customs pa lang, naharang na. mainit din pala mata nila pagdating sa ganun
I also know someone who tried to do that (see my response to Jim Kazama in the previous comment) and your description of what happened is the same as his. Consequences of well-entrenched monopoly.
this reminds me of the movie The Saint starring Val Kilmer which showed how widespread use of alternative sources of energy could cause economies to turn upside down (good for some, bad for some), and that countries would go to war just to preserve the status quo
An exaggerated version of the truth but the truth is still right there, di ba?
The problem with solar panels is that they cost more in energy and raw materials to produce than they actually supply over their lifetime, the same applies to windmills. Nuclear energy is STILL a better option and can be produced safely nowadays.
If solar panels and windmills are very expensive today — and I'm saying IF because I've checked prices, solar panels are EXPENSIVE BUT NOT PROHIBITIVE — it is likely because very few make them and there isn't enough support and funding for further research and development geared towards more cost efficient production. If people are encouraged to use them (info campaigns to educate), and the affluent families start using them, manufacturers will realize there is a ready market. And that will boost enough interest that can lead to investments and research funding.
The problem is that very few talk about alternatives. The Lopez family (a.k.a. Meralco) owns the airwaves and how many cable news networks. And they will not allow programs and infomercials about alternative energy UNLESS they are already active players in the alternative energy industry.
Sa tindi ng init dito sa 'Pinas I'd definitely go for solar panels…
The Lopez family really should start investing in alternative energy, and lower prices, esp with the production of solar panels. Contrary to common sense, it will be actually better for business–cheaper alternatives will get a high demand, thus creating more profit. Then when the local market is already saturated, they can move on to international markets, esp. those countries who are all crazy about green energy.
Business is not bad–GREED, LAZINESS and STUPIDITY are. I hope someone succeeds in marketing solar panels here. God knows I will buy!
"Nuclear energy is STILL a better option and can be produced safely nowadays."
US as the world's largest nuclear producer even hesitated with only 20% of its consumption sourced from nuclear. There are strong reasons why, (1) prohibitive cost, (2) nuclear waste, and (3) safety reasons. Nuclear power was popular in 1960 with US anticipated to have 1,000 reactors by year 2000. In 1970, it cancelled 120 reactor orders. Since then, there is no new reactor in the US. More than 95% of current US reactors are located in the eastern side(west has history of earthquakes). Earthquake state California cancelled its 3 reactors (Rancho Seco, Onofre1 and Humboldt Bay).
I cannot imagine Philippines which is sitting within the ring of fire (earthquake zone) to have a nuclear reactor. You should experience the July 16, 1990 7.8 earthquake that demolished Baguio City and think of nuclear plant.
And US has only 104 reactors today than its 1960 plan of 1,000.
We are looking into installing solar panels for our house. I live in New Jersey. We had somebody come out and perform an assessment. I was surprised to learn as to how it works. I'm not sure if it works the same way in Manila.
I assumed that the panels will supply power to our house alone. I was surprised to learn that the panels actually supply power to the entire grid. When they first install it, they analyze your trend in usage and ensure that they install panels that produce just enough, if not a little bit over what you normally use monthly. This power that the panels produce is worth a certain amount and is translated into dollars. Depending on how much power you supply to the grid, the electric company will end up either subtracting the dollar amount from your monthly bill. You possibly end up with no bill at all if you just even out. OR if you produced more than you used… then you would actually get money back. Imagine the electric company paying YOU? But it's regulated in the sense that you can not install panels that produce WAY more than your monthly consumption. This way people can't exploit the system and making loads of money off the electric company.
It's a really good investment actually, except the upfront cost is a lot. There are incentives here, like a 30% government rebate or discount (i don't remember exactly), and they provide government-backed loans. The selling point is that the panels eventually end up paying for themselves.
In fact even the electric company has started to install the panels on poles along the streets as well. It makes sense that it's really in their best interest to do so.
It's all around good I think, as it will lead to affordable energy for everyone in the long run.
"Then, there’s the matter of urban planning. Was there ever one for Metro Manila?"
A professor in college mentioned that ideally there should be spaces between cities, that was the idea but with the expansion of the cities – you get what is known as Metro Manila. Nagkadikit dikit na kasi!
Regarding solar panels.
Solar cells are manufactured locally at SunPower at the Laguna Technopark. I'm hoping that should bring down the cost.
Yup, I have friends who work there. But it's an international company–and what they make, they export.
As for urban planning: European tourists always say that even in the Middle Ages, they had better city plans than us, 21st Century people with more technology.
It's a good thing meron na ditong solar cells dito. Sana matibay at maganda ang quality. At least we all know who to get in touch with when we decide to use solar panels.
Marunong din kaya sila mag-install ng solar panels?
@gabby: yup, it costs a lot but in the long run we don't get to spend a lot on electric bills…
This is a long overdue alternative source of energy for the Philippines. Haaaaaaaaaaay.
Yep, that was where I checked prices. I wanted the garden to be powered by solar lights but I discovered that the solar lamp posts were for industrial clients.
my wife's cousin was in the middle of their farm when she collapsed a month ago. She was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital. She lived in Bangui, Ilocos Norte where the windmills are. I share your notion that we should have adapted to the heat but we're not. Maybe not on how hot it has become.
t might be worth giving the Renewable Energy Law a chance. Stricter regulation (a.k.a. less corruption in government)
Asa pa tayo, We have known this to be one of the solutions to our problem and yet corruption is even getting worse ata. We're doomed!
"We're doomed!"
Ummm… Things might get better. I mean, REALLY BETTER. Just not in our lifetime.
Condolence to your cousin.
With this hot weather, expect a lot of its effects especially to our health. I, for one, am feeling the effects. I have an allergic rhinitis and in the past, I had my share of attacks but all were manageable. Last Monday, I had another attack but unlike the previous attacks this was by far the worst I experienced plus the heat just made my condition getting worse. Scared, I went to the doctor the following day to be given the proper medical attention since the medication I took were not effective already. Then my doctor told me to be prepared all the time as the weather this season is getting hot and that the surroundings will get dry and dusty which will make me prone to more attacks. What a way to spend the summer.
Well, got to follow my doc’s advice or else I will be doomed also. Hehehe!
P.S. To prevent illness due to the weather: drink lots of water or fluids, stay out of direct sunlight, get proper ventilation as much as possible, eat lots of fruits, and avoid dusty places. As they say, PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE.
You are a good writer. News pa ba ito? Count me in among your wide following of readers. Reading more of your work could be a continuing learning and relearning. Your writing can be a guide for or against any idea. My friends say you walk on the good side of consumers, among the do-gooders in the human race, and this I got to see through. Run for senator next time Ma'am Connie.
Thank you.
I think I'd be more effective being where I am where I don't need to be beholden to anyone. 