Press Release
April 16, 2007

Recto calls for energy conservation
as gov't gas, power bill hits P7.81B

"With government's power and gas bill hitting P21.4 million per day, reducing these by 10% would result in savings of P781 million annually, which could be used to build 1,698 classrooms," Sen. Recto said.

Latest available government data showed the bureaucracy racked up P5.148 billion in electricity expenses and P2.662 billion for gasoline, oil and lubricants in 2005.

The amount for gas was used to run the government's 74,356 vehicle fleet including the naval ships and airport planes while the electricity charges were consumed by offices that house the 1.1 million workers of the national government.

As one of the country's biggest energy users, government has allotted P29.256 billion for supplies this year including gas and electricity under the P1.126 trillion national budget.

"But we can incur huge savings by adopting a culture of conservation in public offices," Recto said.

While he's batting for economy in the use of utilities, Recto said this belt tightening should not include important functions such as street lighting, and those rendered by hospitals, ambulance services, police patrols, and firemen.

Senator Recto recalled that the government in fact has issued Administrative Order No. 103 on August 31, 2004 reiterating government's call on officials and employees to abide by the standing austerity measures imposed by Malacanang since February 27, 2001.

It also ordered all offices to slash by 10 percent all expenses for water, fuel and telephone bills and the acquisition of office supplies and other needs.

Recto stressed that the order covered all national government agencies (NGAs), government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs), state universities and colleges (SUCs), government financial institutions (GFIs) and other government corporate entities (OGCEs) and their affiliates and subsidiaries.

Recto said these measures are most appropriate at this time since oil prices are rising in the world market and the power, water and telephone bills incurred by government entities are soaring.

"It is now time for us to revisit this austerity program and even surpass its most significant accomplishments," Recto added.

"In a sense, the call for energy conservation is a total campaign to scrimp on funds and rechannel the same for social-payback programs such as those addressing classroom-shortage," Recto emphasized.

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