Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho featured a story tonight on residents in Butuan City getting free LPG straight from their water wells. People noticed at first a gust of air coming out while they're pumping water. This "air" turns out to be methane, a valuable energy/fuel source,which some residents have tapped for use in their homes. Instead of buying LPG tanks, they only need to channel the methane into their homes through improvised tubing systems, and voila, they now have gas whenever they need it.
While this is incredible news, what I found really more incredible is how the local government, upon being asked, told the reporters that they cannot do anything to further harness this potential energy source. Funds are not sufficient. Imagine how much the city can benefit if they could extract their own fuel for domestic use instead of having to rely on commercial fuel which can be very expensive. They have this enormous opportunity staring at them in the face, and yet, they are unable (or unwilling) to do something about it.
I am writing this because I have recently been reading up on alternative energy sources and found out that we have actually lots of options when it comes to extracting energy for domestic and industrial use. Our very own Philippines, in fact, is sitting on the "Ring of Fire", that portion beneath the surface of the earth where tectonic plates come together and temperatures are hottest, which makes us a very potent source for geothermal energy. And I am writing this not because I am claiming to be an energy / scientific expert (although while I was reading the book, my secret yearnings of being a scientist has surfaced and I wished I had taken up chemistry or physics instead in college--which of course, I have not given any thought while I was in college), but because I am both amazed at all this newly-discovered potential, and saddened that no one--to put it simply--cares. The government has more issues to prioritize (next to amassing exorbitant wealth) than the energy/climate issue. And the Filipino citizens are too busy updating their Facebook status.
Oh if only I were a scientist. Or a senator.
It's not too late to be a scientist. Or a senator.
ReplyDeleteThe Philippine Government does not really prioritize on research and development. They feel that immediate/prompt responses to current crisis are more feasible rather than investing in innovations for long-terms purposes. One possible reason of this is due to politics. What politician devotes more time on something that the public don't see deem worthy enough? They need to do something that appeals to their self-marketing/campaign; thus, creating infrastructures, flyovers, and complexes, which they can proudly point out to be their 'own' project during speeches. Hm. I wonder why there are more projects on transportation rather than health care services. It's a mystery to me. To continue on, what can possibly happen is that some foreign country would explore this 'gas' found in Philippine soil and have the Philippines pay them for their services. LOL. What a twisted thing to see!
ReplyDeleteOr you could write a book of poetry with super sexy scenes ala Fifty Shades of Grey and pithy lines about how we can GO this energy plan. Then send copies to scientists and senators, although not before we kidnap their kids and blackmail them to issue our demands. It'll work! -ny
ReplyDelete@3spressobrown: It is too late to be a scientist. Pero pwede pa senator :p
ReplyDelete@gmazeroom: I also saw a special report on TV which details where the pork barrel is frequently allocated. I think more than half goes to infrastructure. Of course, so the trapos can paint them over with "A Project of XXX", whilst getting enormous kickbacks from the bidding process (ok, so this is not news). And I agree with what you say that they respond more to current crisis rather than invest in long-term innovations since they're idea of a solution to the recent flooding in Manila is to buy more rubber boats and distribute boots to schoolchildren so they can still attend to their classes without getting their feet wet.
@ny: I cannot begin to imagine how a Christian Grey persona can blurt out sexy one-liners on carbon emission..think that could work though, get everyone's attention..
Christian Grey: Are you some alternative clean geothermal energy our government hasn't tapped yet?
ReplyDeleteGirl: Why?
CG: Because your body is now starting to feel like my only salvation.
BOOM (!/?}
Hahaha! You should be making a compilation of these alternative energy pick-up lines. I actually like the idea...
ReplyDelete