Angeles folk to get energy-saving bulbs

ANGELES CITY -- Some 10,000 Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs) will be distributed to 5,000 households here starting September 22 as part of the Philippine Energy Efficiency Project (PEEP) of the Department of Energy (DOE).

First district Representative Carmelo Lazatin, in line with his memorandum of agreement with DOE Secretary Jose Rene Almendras, will distribute two light bulbs for each family.

Lazatin will distribute CFLs in 2,200 households at the EPZA Resettlement in Barangay Pulung Cacutud on September 22; in Northville, Barangay Cutud on September 24; and in 600 households in Barangay Sapalibutad on September 25.

Councilor Bryan Matthew Nepomuceno, Lazatin’s son Carmelo Lazatin Jr., veteran news anchor Max Sangil, lawyers Nino Enriquez and Maria Imelda “IQ” Tuazon are expected to assist Lazatin during the bulb distribution.

In order to qualify for the distribution of CFLs, the 5,000 recipient households were asked to submit their electric bills to their district representative.

Former Pulung Cacutud barangay chairman Angelo De Leon expressed gratitude to Lazatin.

“We are very grateful to Congressman Lazatin for choosing our barangay as one of the beneficiaries for the CFL distribution. These CFLs will be very helpful in helping residents lower their energy consumption and save on their electric bill,” he said.

CFLs are smaller versions of the fluorescent lamps and are alternatives to the traditional incandescent bulb because they have longer lifespan and consume less energy.

Compared to incandescent bulbs, CFLs produce light more efficiently and no energy goes to waste. A 14-watt CFL produces the same amount of light as a 75-watt incandescent bulb which means that using CFL instead of an incandescent bulb will save energy and lower electric bill.

According to the CFL briefer from the DOE, at a rate of P10 per kilowatt hour, the electric bill for using an 11-watt CFL for 240 hours in one month is P26.40.

Given the same rate, the electric bill for using a 50-watt incandescent bulb for the same amount of time is worth P120.

The distribution of CFLs is part of the National Residential Lighting Program, which seeks to encourage households to replace incandescent bulbs with energy-saving CFLs, started last year.