AIMING to reduce electrical expenses by up to 50 percent, solar energy technology has been introduced to the Cebu City Government by its long-time sister city, Yokohama City in Japan.
In a press conference on Monday, Feb. 17, 2025, Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia told reporters that Yokohama City presented the technology designed to “drastically” reduce electricity bills.
Garcia highlighted potential savings, saying that if the firm charges seven pesos per kilowatt-hour, compared to the current rate of P16 to P18, this could result in a substantial reduction in electricity costs for Cebu.
He said the proposed development would be a major step in advancing sustainable energy, reducing the city’s carbon footprint and offering a cost-effective solution for the local government.
For the project to move forward, the private firm must submit a memorandum of agreement to the City Council for approval to conduct a study.
Garcia said the study would take approximately a month to complete, and if the project proceeds, it is expected to be realized this year, 2025.
As part of the project study, the firm will assess all government buildings and locations where electricity is currently being paid and determine where solar panels could be installed.
“This is something I will really follow through and look into because it will really save costs [for the] Cebu City Government,” said Garcia.
The long-term relationship between Cebu and Yokohama City has also led to other ongoing collaborative projects, such as drainage master plans and the provision of a tunnel boring machine.
Meanwhile, a representative from the Malaysian Government, through the Malaysian Islamic Chamber of Commerce, visited Garcia’s office to explore potential partnerships on various infrastructure projects.
Garcia said discussions focused on building dams, mass transportation, and other key infrastructure needs.
“Perhaps when they (Malaysian government) come back, they have more concrete proposals and we can also give them concrete problems that we are encountering like [the] bulk water supply,” said Garcia. / DPC