DOE wants to phase out incandescent bulbs, promotes CFLs

ZAMBOANGA CITY: The Department of Energy (DOE) has resumed the Philippine Energy Efficiency Project or PEEP which aims to eliminate the use of incandescent bulbs and switch to compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) as part of its National Residential Lighting Program. As many as 68 million incandescent bulbs are believed being used in the country today, but the program aims to replace only 13 million of these bulbs. And 33 power cooperatives in Mindanao, including the Zamboanga City Electric Cooperative have begun collecting incandescent bulbs and exchange them with CFLs.

The Energy department said CFL uses less electricity than incandescent bulb, and because of its low power consumption, there is less pollution. It said a 60-watt incandescent bulb could be replaced with a 15-watt CFL.

Up to six CFLs are being given to each consumer in exchange for their incandescent bulbs. However, only the most recent electric bill will be used as proof to entitle the consumers to claim their free compact fluorescent lamps.

But this early, the program is already laden with scandals, at least in Zamboanga City where the local cooperative has been reported selling 25-watt incandescent bulbs for P20 each to consumers who then exchange them for free CFLs being offered by the Zamboanga City Electric Cooperative.

The local prices of a 40-watt incandescent bulb range from P13 to P15 each.

But under the National Residential Lighting Program, electric cooperatives are not allowed to sell incandescent bulbs to consumers. It was the second time this year that the Zamboanga City Electric Cooperative launched the program.

Reynerio Ramos, the general manager of the Zamboanga City Electric Cooperative, said he was not aware of the selling of incandescent bulbs inside the premises of the firm.

“Let me check about this. I am not aware of it,” Ramos said.

The electric cooperatives and private distribution utilities were also briefed in July this year in Mindanao about the program to ensure that Clean Development Mechanism rules will be followed not only during distribution of compact fluorescent lamps and proper disposal of incandescent bulbs.

The briefing provided step-by-step procedures on how to implement and record, and monitor the distribution of CFLs.

Scores of consumers have flocked to the Zamboanga City Electric Cooperative to buy the bulbs and exchange them with fluorescent lamps so they can avail of the free government offer.

“Somebody is making a killing out of this program. Somebody is benefiting from this business,” said one consumer who purchased a dozen incandescent bulbs in the local cooperative and exchanged them for free CFLs.

Another consumer said he was able to buy six incandescent bulbs at the cooperative for P120 and exchanged them with six CFLs and was contemplating of selling it to his neighbors for P75 each.

The compact fluorescent lamps being distributed by the government is not for sale and the Energy department even printed on its boxes a telephone hotline number 02-824-02267 where consumers can inquire about the program. The boxes also contained the picture of former President Gloria Arroyo, who first launched the program last year. –AL JACINTO, Manila Times