THE Cagayan de Oro City Council is planning to give households that use solar power and energy-efficient measures a tax incentive in a bid to address the growing demand for energy in the city.

City Councilor Teodulfo “Bong” Lao said residents need to invest in solar power roofing and developers need to construct “eco-friendly” buildings that save on power consumption.

He said these clean energy measures are better than building coal plants which provides power at the cost of harming the environment.

“I-adopt ang solar power, libre man ang init sa adlaw, gamiton nato, (We should adopt solar power, because sunlight is free we should use it)," Lao, chairman of the committee on energy, said after the flag raising ceremony on Monday, April 8.

"Kung maggamit ka ug renewable energy, less dependent ta sa atong local distributor nga coal-fired power plant (If we use renewable energy, we become less dependent on our local distributor which is the coal-fired power plant). Dili na magkulang ang power supply kay ma-prioritize na ang dagko nga industries kay kita wala naman ta gasalig, ug wala nasad tay bayrunon (Power supply would now be enough because it will be poured into industries because we are independent and we don't have to pay anymore)," he added.

He said if a household or industry that use solar power pay P100 for real property tax, they will be given a 20 percent discount.

"After 5 years of enjoying a tax discount, you will regain what you invested," he said.

Lao said the City Hall will set an example and invest in solar panels.