Seeing such bright minds gathered today, I see an even brighter future for our people. I am very pleased to speak with you as you convene to discuss issues critical to our country and the global community. For in this campaign, there is so much that we can accomplish together.
Renewable energy has always been discussed within the context of climate change. Yes, there is an urgency attached to this drive for like the body parts that the Almighty generously bestowed on us, we have but one environment and one world.
In the past century, fossil fuels powered so much of humanity’s development but now threaten to stand in the way of the development it once birthed. Emission levels have grown as the appetites for industrialization have swelled and men from all nations have felt the impact of this threat. As we apply new ways to tame and negate the harmful discharges of fossil-fueled facilities, we must use electrical power more efficiently and look to cleaner technologies of both power and light.
The windmills of Pagudpod have long been synonymous with wind power in the Philippines. But other areas are being explored to house such facilities. One firm, after seeing less than optimal results in Sual, Pangasinan, is now looking to Panay and remains committed to pursuing this prospect.
The rivers that flow also turn the turbines of power plants. I am very proud to say that my home province of Isabela hosts one of the largest hydro electric plants in Asia, the Magat Hydro Electric Plant located in the town of Ramon. And smaller hydroelectric plants are now closing the power generation gap in less developed provinces of the land.
Since the dawn of time, the sun has served as man’s source of light, but how it accompanies us on our journey in the second millennium is up to our creativity. Solar technology is indeed maturing. In other nations, households can tap the light of the sun to produce the electricity they need and even sell their surplus back to the grid. Here, the Cagayan de Oro solar plant provides power to Misamis and firms like First Philec Solar Corporation and SunPower Philippines have set up manufacturing facilities in the Southern Tagalog region.
All these benefit the environment tremendously, but they should advance the lives of our people as well.
Current technologies in the fields of communications and education stand to accelerate our development at a pace that scientists of the 70s thought impossible. The undeniable power of the Web has captured the globe and today, it is impossible to learn, do business or even govern without access to these tools. But these need power to run, and if we can propagate these instruments without needing an excessive amount of power to do so, then the progress we seek is not limited to theory and good intentions.
Happily, the creative and the ingenious continue to innovate. In the past year, many of you might have taken note of the achievements of SINAG II, the Philippine solar car being campaigned by a team from De La Salle University and Team Solar Philippines. It almost overtook the entry of the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology at the World Solar Challenge in Australia. Where it not for a damaged battery, SINAG would have set an admirable pace.
Just as the technology of Formula 1 cars has spilled over to make ordinary vehicles safer and more fuel efficient, the innovations of projects like SINAG can give life to devices that are affordable and usable for households.
In other regions of the Philippines, private enterprises are propagating power generation facilities that use agricultural waste. I hear that abroad, similar devices exist. About the size of small container vans, they use garbage from urban communities to create electricity. Imagine how such inventions can increase our electrical stock without needing large land footprints or causing harmful emissions to the communities they service. The more power we can draw from natural renewable resources and waste, the better off we shall be.
Just as the Olympic motto calls athletes to be faster, higher and stronger, our development challenges call for advances that are smaller, more powerful and highly cost-efficient. For technology to be a driver of change, it must be cohesive, readily deployable and prudently sustainable.
Not being a scientist or engineer, I will not attempt to match your expertise in the nuances of technology. I shall only test your patience for a few minutes more and I beg your indulgence as I make one last point.
Our need for green electricity is unquestioned. The government and the private sector are already joined at the hip in order to make this happen. However, I ask that the professionals here go one step further.
Go beyond the sourcing of clean power. Embark on a holistic approach to insure that from end-to-end, we are not only able to use energy wisely; we can create employment and opportunities for innovation.
For those tasked with designing appliances, seek to not only engineer devices that generate maximum output while drawing minimal current. Seek to combine technologies and see how these can be deployed to bring light to places that have never known electricity.
To those who are involved in the building of structures, cooperate with the growing field of professionals who work with the wisdom of nature. In the provinces, it is normal to build one’s house so that the main doors face east and the light of the sun can fill the structure. Roofs are made to promote ventilation even against the summer’s heat. Find ways to adopt these principles in all of your projects whenever terrain allows. Work with the rest of the design team to build homes and offices that are safe and energy efficient.
For those charting the paths of industry and policy, let us take stock of the resources we have and build on them. The agricultural sector is ripe with offerings that can be used to create insulation and building materials that reduce the strain on climate control systems. Some of these may also be naturally fire resistant. As we march ahead, we should be able to use these gifts for electrical applications.
The government housing sector has already made the use of such materials a priority in the execution of our housing projects. Perhaps the private sector can take similar initiatives and launch staunch advocacies for their development. In working to make clean use of energy, let us extract all possible opportunities to generate employment and spur the creativity of our people.
It is said that an optimist is one who sees opportunity in all the problems he faces. Amidst the challenges of energy and development, I am filled with the utmost optimism that everything we must solve also holds the most rewarding opportunities for our nation.
Our environment is rich and the envy of many. But our real wealth lies in the genius of our people. While other nations race to harness the power of wind, sun and water, let us work to build our prosperity on our skill, creativity and daring.
I congratulate you for successfully staging your 36th Convention. I wish you and our nation more power to light the paths of development.
Maraming salamat po at magandang gabi sa inyong lahat.