Presidential Adviser for Western Visayas Rafael "Lito" Coscolluela yesterday joined renewable energy advocates in Negros Occidental and Bacolod City in rallying for the utilization of alternative energy sources.

Coscolluela, one of the panelists at the press conference of Greenpeace's Asia Energy Revolution Tour in BREDCO port, said Negros Occidental has become a model in making it possible to look for alternatives, as he pointed out efforts of the Philippine National Oil Co.-Energy Development Corp. to undertake a P1.6-million Jatropha Plantation Project in Kabankalan City, that is seen as a potential source of biofuel.

Together with Greenpeace, we hope we can further discourage all initiatives towards the use of oil-based energy, he said.

Coscolluela, however, said the shift to alternative power sources will only happen if there is an aggressive advocacy campaign and "if people say this what we want."

Greenpeace, an international environment campaigner, advocates the switch from fossil fuels to renewable or clean energy such as wind, hydro and biomass.

Other panelists were Bacolod Councilors Lyndon Caña and Jocelle Batapa-Sigue, who respectively chair the committees on environment and on energy; Christine Gemora of Brgy. Alijis's Kontra Power One; Silver Navarro of Green Renewable Independent Power Producer-Negros; and Ruth Owen of Smith Bell Corp., a private company developing wind power sources in Negros Occidental.

Caña expressed support for the use of alternative energy sources, adding that there is a need to redirect policies and practices towards renewable energy resource utilization.

Athena Ronquillo-Ballesteros, Greenpeace International energy campaigner, said that Negros Occidental could become Southeast Asia's first-ever community to be powered by renewable energy if immediate steps are taken to complete the initiatives started by the local advocates.

She said that Negros Occidental is considered as a model for renewable energy advocacy and it plays a big role in influencing communities across Asia to take the renewable energy route.

Greenpeace, in its Asia Energy Revolution Tour, brought its vessel, Rainbow Warrior, to Negros Occidental on Sunday and Monday, the last leg of its Philippine Tour.

Last night, the Rainbow Warrior left the Philippines for Thailand.*NLG

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