In response to the government’s policy and the national program for energy efficiency, the An Giang Province Department of Industry and Trade together with the Philips Vietnam Company sent a team to rural areas in the province to launch the “The Path for the Goal of Power Saving” program for impoverished residents in the area.

The team visited Oc Eo town in Thoai Son district, An Giang Province, at the end of March. The residents of the town, of which about 40 percent are Khmer, came early to see the guests. Ms. Chau Ruong from Oc Eo said, “I’m very happy to hear that local authorities came to each and every family to give a free coupon to get power saving fluorescent lamps, which can replace old and broken lamps. Previously we just used incandescent bulbs, which used an average of 80kW and cost VND40-50,000 a month. For this reason, we changed to fluorescent lamps. However, they have now become black at the two ends and not as bright as before. We feel uncomfortable about it.” Residents in the town received two long fluorescent lamps and one power saving compact lamp. The program has encouraged rural people to save power and contribute to energy conservation.

Le Cao Son, who is a representative from Philips Vietnam, said that following the success in Vinh Long and Dong Thap provinces, the company continued to sponsor poor people in An Giang under this program. This time the company gave free lamps to 360 poor families. Each of them received two Philips Lifemax fluorescent lamps and one economical lamp. Philips Lifemax 18W and 36W fluorescent lamps can be used for 13,000 hours and save 10 percent more power than big-sized fluorescent lamps. Philips compact fluorescent lamps can save 80 percent more power than lamps that are commonly used in rural areas. Son also said that his company has gotten together with young people in Thoai Son district to improve people’s understanding of energy conservation.

Nguyen Hung Em, the deputy chairman of the Oc Eo People’s Committee, said that 360 poor families in Oc Eo were given economical lamps. By giving them free power saving lamps, Philips Vietnam has called on people to save power. Local authorities have also urged people to take part in the Earth Hour program by turning off their lights for one hour.

Ha Hoa Binh, the head of the Power Management Division of the An Giang Province Department of Industry and Trade, said that now that the price of power is increasing, it is important to develop a power saving program in rural areas where people are not as concerned about energy efficiency, even though the government has put in place policies to encourage traders and producers to use power efficient products. The program, “The Path for the Goal of Power Saving” has helped people to better understand the need of energy efficiency and choose economical electric appliances. It is expected that in the near future domestic businesses will create a lot more power efficient products to benefit the country and consumers.

By a collaborator from An Giang province