With energy to harness, RDC-Western Visayas has fruitful year, says chair

ROXAS CITY, Dec. 14 (PNA) – The response of the Western Visayas Regional Development Council (RDC) to the call to face the energy security challenge, one of the government's major concerns together with food security, has helped make 2008 a fruitful year for the council.

This was the gist of the message of RDC Chairperson and Antique Governor Sally Zaldivar Perez at the fourth quarterly meeting of the council during the recent Sinadya sa Halaran festival here.

The council organized a regional renewable energy congress last November, the first such activity to be held in the country focusing on renewable energy, which is now a major thrust of the government to develop and harness renewable alternative energy.

Present during the congress held in Iloilo City were Senators Edgardo Angara and Juan Miguel Zubiri and Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) Chair Zenaida Cruz-Ducut.

Angara is the author of the Renewable Energy Act of 2008 while Zubiri was responsible for the enactment of the Biofuels Law of 2006.

From that activity, Perez said, "we have learned that there are alternative energy sources in the Philippines which can be tapped to lessen the country's dependence on imported oil."

Likewise, the council's Sub-Committee on Communication and Advocacy headed by PIA Regional Director lawyer Ma. Janet C. Mesa has conducted a speakers' bureau training as part of an information campaign to enlighten people on the energy and food situation and the efforts of the government in responding to it.

Perez said a new impetus in the pursuit of development in Western Visayas has been mustered following the "highly successful" and first-ever joint meeting initiated by the RDC between local chief executives and congressmen of the region.

Perez said they agreed to continue the collaborative meeting due to its positive impact on the development of the region. "It was very fruitful," enthused the lady RDC chair.

The RDC meeting for the last quarter of 2008 was included among the highlights of Sinadya sa Halaran, Capiz's premier festival, last December 4-8.

Perez said that owing to the positive results of the first energy congress, the council will organize another one for Negros Occidental.

With Gov. Perez were NEDA OIC-Regional Director Ro-Ann Bacal and Governor Victor Tanco, the host governor.