THE government will pilot run the Mobile Energy System (MES) in the typhoon-prone municipalities in Cagayan Province to improve the country’s resiliency against disasters, hoping that current energy challenges could be overcome through technology and innovation, President Ferdinand R. Marcos said on Monday.
“We will hold the pilot run of the MES in the typhoon prone municipalities of Sta. Ana and Lal-lo in Cagayan Province. MES units will also be distributed to various government agencies, showing our commitment to improve government services in times of crisis,” President Marcos said in his message delivered by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin during the ceremonial launching of the Energy Sector Emergency Operations Center (ESEOC) and the symbolic turnover of a miniature MES at the Energy Center in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City.
“These remarkable undertakings of innovation demonstrate how we capitalize on technological advancements and how we can provide proactive solutions to the energy challenges that beset our country.”
There is no doubt that these innovations will help in terms of guaranteeing power supply when it is needed most, especially during calamities, noting relief, response and reconstruction are not possible without available power, the President said.
Without electricity, hospitals cannot treat the injured, food are spoiled, and communication is cut off, Marcos said, adding the availability of power assures people that everything will be fine.
The chief executive expressed gratitude to the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) for sharing its resources and expertise for those projects, as well as to the Department of Energy (DOE) for bringing those projects to fruition to improve the resilience of the Philippine energy systems.
The ESEOC, a centralized energy command hub equipped with the latest technological innovation from Europe and US, will enable the DOE to spearhead coordinated disaster response process and system, offering clear guidance on prevention or mitigation of disruptions in the delivery of essential electricity services to affected areas.
On the other hand, the MES is designed to improve energy access in remote communities and strengthen resilience during natural disasters and cyber threats to power utilities.
It is tailored fit to users’ needs to create a wide base for use across various sectors, including health facilities, education, telecommunications, financial institutions, and commercial and industrial enterprises, as well as off-grid particularly unserved remote communities.
The two new initiatives are designed to address the need for resilient energy infrastructure and response capabilities in times of crisis and are part of the USAID US$34 million Energy Secure Philippines activity with the Philippine government.
The USAID turned over eight solar-powered MES units to the DOE, which will be distributed to various government agencies and local government units (LGUs).
Each unit has 50kWh battery storage and when fully charge, it can power two television sets, two air-conditioning units, 10 light bulbs, two desktop computers, two laptops, five phone chargers, five electric fans, and one internet modem for almost 12 hours.
An average of 20 tropical cyclones enters the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) each year, with five of them being the most destructive, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
