DAVAO CITY – A research specialist of the Department of Energy (DoE) disclosed that a total of 200,000 compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) will be distributed to households here starting next month.

Artemio Habitan, supervising science research specialist of the DoE, said that the CFL distribution will encourage consumers to shift from incandescent bulbs to CFLs.

“This project aims to increase consumer awareness on the use of more energy efficient lighting system to decrease electric consumption as well as greenhouse emissions,” he said.

In his presentation before village chieftains in the city in a public consultation meeting on clean development mechanism last Thursday, Habitan said this $16.5 million project is under the Philippine Energy Efficiency Project (PEEP) of the DoE and is acquired through a loan from the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

A total of 13 million CFLs will be distributed nationwide. Around five million will be delivered this year, four million by next year, and the rest until the term of the current administration.

The distribution will be coursed through logistic service providers (LSP) and local utility providers.

In Metro Manila, the Manila Electric Company (Meralco) is set to distribute 4.45 million CFLs, Visayas Electric Company (Veco) in Cebu will get 250,000 CFLs, Cagayan Power and Light Company (Cepalco) in Cagayan de Oro will receive 100,000 CFLs, and Davao Light and Power Company (DLPC), 200,000 CFLs.

In its third leg here, Habitan said that the distribution is expected to begin next month.

“The distribution should have already started but there was a delay in our supplies from China,” he said.

However, he assured that the CFLs to be delivered will have a total of 10,000 burning hours compared to other low-quality energy-saving lamps.