Archival eyes a solar-powered Cebu City Library

Following the relaunch of the 24/7 operations at the Cebu City Public Library, newly installed Mayor Nestor Archival unveiled plans to make the city library the first solar-powered library in the Philippines and to convert chapels into study centers.

- 

In his speech, Archival noted that with the council's help in the future, he promised to make the city library the first solar-powered library in the country.

"We had made an ordinance, which was approved two weeks ago, that all buildings in the City of Cebu will be put on solar, and I will promise — we will promise — I think the councilors are all here — I hope that we will do that," he said.

"With the council's approval, the city library will be the first solar library in the Philippines," he added.

Archival, a known environmental advocate and an electrical engineer himself, authored City Ordinance 2772—the ordinance he most wanted the council to approve before he ended his term as a councilor.

When asked about the concrete timeframe for the full implementation of making the library solar-powered, Archival clarified that it must first pass through the council, and added that he expected it to happen within the next six months.

"I would like to ask the councilors to help me, sila moy mo-approve ana, hopefully within six months," he said.

After his call for the councilors' support, the present councilors affirmed Archival's call for help as they all raised their thumbs up, signifying their support.

Additionally, he added that the City Hall is currently paying about P250 million per year for electricity.

He noted that if they can reduce the cost to about 20 percent, it will result in significant savings that can also be used to put more computers in the library.

The library reportedly only has five new working computers, which, according to Archival, could benefit many students if the library would add more.