The Cebu Provincial board has encouraged electric cooperatives in their province to consider using renewable energy as an alternative power source.

“Renewable energy is an essential part of country’s low emissions development strategy and is vital to addressing the challenge of climate change, energy security and access to energy,” Provincial Board Member Thadeo Jovito Ouano said in a resolution.

In a report by The Freeman, the resolution cited the Renewable Energy Act of 2008 (RA 9513), which urges the use of renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, hydropower, geothermal, biomass, and ocean energy.

The resolution also cited the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) of 2001 encouraging the use of indigenous and new renewable energy to minimize the dependence on imported energy.

“Through the adoption of sustainable energy development strategies to reduce the country’s dependence on fossil fuels and thereby minimize the country’s exposure to price fluctuations in the international markets, the effects of which spiral down to almost all sectors of the economy,” Ouano said.

He added that the laws mentioned encourage the use of RE as an instrument to avoid emissions and balance economic growth achievement and health and environment protection.