By Darryl John Esguerra | Philippine News Agency
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Monday expressed elation over the launching of the new Energy Sector Emergency Operations Center (ESEOC) and the Mobile Energy System (MES), which would strengthen the resilience of the country’s energy systems and ensure power supply in times of calamities.
During the launch of the ESEOC and MES at the Energy Center in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City, Marcos emphasized the importance of reliable power supply during emergencies.
“Electricity makes relief, response, and reconstruction possible. We know from bitter experience that power delayed is not only rehabilitation deferred, but also development denied. Without power, hospitals cannot treat the injured, food is spoiled, and communications is cut off,” Marcos said in his message read by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin.
“For people and places devastated by disasters, nothing conveys the assurance that everything will be alright than the availability of power,” he added.
“We cannot count on people’s resilience alone. People’s patience is not a renewable resource, we must put in place contingencies,” the President stressed.
Marcos said the ESEOC would allow the government to conduct near-real-time monitoring of energy infrastructures such as the grid performance and distribution network, especially during disasters when power service is at risk.
“It will also serve as a centralized hub for collaboration and information sharing across the entire energy supply chain to ensure seamless coordination among local, regional, and national authorities in times of crisis,” he added.
Meanwhile, the MES, a portable and flexible energy system that taps into a renewable energy source, may be used to improve energy access in remote communities.
The President said the government would deploy the initial MES units to typhoon-prone municipalities of Santa Ana and Lal-lo in the province of Cagayan, as well as to various government agencies.
He also thanked the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Department of Energy (DOE) for partnering to come up with innovative and sustainable energy projects.
The projects form part of USAID’s five-year, P1.6 billion (US$34 million) “Energy Secure Philippines” (ESP) flagship project, which aims to foster a more competitive, secure, and resilient energy sector in the country.
“These projects show the power of unity and the value of cooperation,” he said.
The USAID turned over during the ceremony eight solar-powered MES units to the DOE, of which two will be stationed at the DOE, one will be used as backup power for the ESEOC, while the rest will be deployed between June and August of this year.
According to the DOE, each MES unit, amounting to P2.99 million to P5.25 million, has 50 kWh battery storage and, upon full charging, can power two television sets, two air-conditioning units, 10 light bulbs, two desktop computers, two laptops, five phone chargers, five electric fans, and one modem for almost 12 hours.
