Naga City is bringing solar energy to several of its public buildings, part of a broader push by the local government to lower operating expenses and lean less on conventional electricity and fuel.
The rollout begins with the Naga City People’s Hall, where panels are already being installed, with the Raul S. Roco Library set to follow. Both are covered under the Naga City Rooftop Solar PV Project, a public-private arrangement in which the equipment and installation come at no charge to the city. The donation was made by Nagueño businessman Joseph Nocos of Emerging Power, Inc., with Ecological Energy Technologies serving as the contractor for the work.
For Mayor Leni Robredo, the project reflects a wider intent to move city operations toward renewable sources and cushion government offices against climbing utility and fuel bills. She pointed to the financial upside once the systems are running.
“Pag natapos na po iyan, dakulaon na maray na savings an satuyang makakamtan,” Robredo said.
The Sangguniang Panlungsod has backed the effort through several resolutions and ordinances, aligning the city council with the mayor’s office on making energy efficiency a fixed part of local policy rather than a one-off measure.
That policy now extends to construction still on the drawing board. Under a new requirement, forthcoming public projects must build in space for solar panels from the design stage, so new facilities can tap the technology as soon as they open. The rule applies to a slate of developments that includes the Naga City Hospital Dormitory, the Center for Safety and Resiliency, the Metro Naga Sports Complex, the Jesse M. Robredo Coliseum, and continuing upgrades at the Naga City Civic Center.
