BERNOS BATS FOR NATIONWIDE HOUSEHOLD SOLAR INSTALLATION SUBSIDY

“Baka naman pwede rin gayahin.”

This was Abra lone district Rep. JB Bernos’ response to news that a neighboring country is set to help finance a shift to solar energy for its residents.

Thailand recently launched a THB 50-billion (around USD 1.48 billion) nationwide home solar program that will allow households to receive support for rooftop photovoltaic projects.

The program, which offers a 50,000-baht subsidy per household, targets to benefit around one million households.

“This is a program worth replicating here, and I hope that our government consider implementing a similar scheme to help Filipino households save on electricity costs by shifting to solar energy,” Bernos said.

The lawmaker, who has been advocating for the mainstreaming of renewable energy sources to lessen the country’s dependence on traditional non-renewable sources such as fossil fuels, urged the government to study the feasibility of embarking on a similar subsidy program.

Bernos is the author of House Bill No. 3126, or the On-Grid Solar Energy Systems bill, which seeks to mandate the establishment of on-grid solar energy systems in all national and local government-owned buildings and offices to reduce electricity costs.

“I definitely think it’s worth looking at. At the very least, let’s conduct a study on the costs and benefits of such a program. Kung makita natin na malaki ang maibabawas sa gastusin ng mga kababayan natin, at makatulong din ito sa pag-stabilize ng power supply natin para naman sa ibang industriya, hindi ba’t win-win situation ito na magiging magandang pamana ng gobyerno sa sambayanang Pilipino,” said Bernos.