CHRISTMAS lights installed by the Cebu City Government in various areas in the City may only be lit for limited hours to save up on electricity.
The City is thinking of implementing this after incurring an electricity bill of P17 million for one month from the Visayan Electric Company.
Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella mulls to enforce this cost-cutting measure once the Christmas decorations that the City has installed are lit this December.
However, Labella said he still has to meet with the department heads to discuss the matter.
He said his plan is aimed at saving on electricity, adding that the savings can be used in giving assistance to the sectors gravely affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
In 2019, the Cebu City Council urged the executive department, as well as the barangays, to limit the lighting of the Christmas lights to four hours daily to save on electricity.
In a previous report, Cebu City’s electricity bill reached P17 million a month.
Labella said some offices in the City Hall have started to cut back on their electricity use by turning off their air conditioning units and lights during lunch time.
However, he said that this set-up may not be done in frontline offices and those often visited by the public.
Labella said the use of the elevators will also be limited to persons who will go to the fourth floor and succeeding floors, urging those who will go up the second and third floors to use the stairs instead.
This does not cover persons with disability, he added.
In view of the Christmas season, Labella will meet with the Parish Pastoral Council in coordination with the Archbishop’s Office, to discuss the holding of the Misa de Gallo or dawn masses.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said on Friday, November 27, 2020 that the national government is leaving it up to the local government units to decide whether or not to allow the Misa de Gallo, a popular Catholic tradition of holding nine dawn Masses, starting on December 16 until Christmas Day.
Labella said he will also include in the meeting officials from the Cebu City Transportation Office, the Cebu City Police Office, and Emergency Operations Center, as well as Cebu City Councilor Joel Garganera to get their opinion on the matter.
Councilor Phillip Zafra, who was assigned by Labella to coordinate with the Church, will also join the meeting. (JJL)