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| Dr. Rico Cruz, biofuel expert |
He will be in De La Salle University (August.11), (Aug.12), and in Maasin City (Aug.14-15; 20-21).
Also he will be in Cebu, Bohol and Cagayan de Oro to attend similar speaking engagement prior to his going back to Manila.
Dr. Cruz, who has been managing the laboratory and biological service program of the Department of Science and Engineering-Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation in Pendleton, Oregon, USAfor the last seven years, is a proud Maasinhon.
In 2010, he was awarded as one of the Outstanding Southern Leytenos.
Also, he was a TOBAW (The Outstanding Boholanos of the World Awards) awardee in 2006, being a half Boholano.
He is an Outstanding alumnus of Visayas State University (formerly Visayas
College of Agriculture ) in Baybay, Leyte, where he earned his Agricultural
Engineering degree-Class of 1980. He finished high school at the College of
Maasin-Class of 1975.
He completed his post graduate degrees in Msc Agricultural Engineering at Silsoe College, Cranfield Institute of Technology-Class of 1983 (UK), and Phd in Biological Resource in Engineering at University of Idaho-Class of 1990 (USA).
Dr. Cruz works include extensive research and development of clean, cheap and renewable energy resources such as biofuels, biomass, solar, hydro, and wind, among others.
A staunch advocate of bio-fuel resources here and abroad, he said that
bio-energy should be harnessed in the country considering our vast natural
resources.
He however added that "corruption and short-term thinking" are the reasons why development of alternative energy resources is slow here.
“Over the last 20 years, energy development in the country is very slow mainly due to corruption and short-term thinking. I would have to provide an “F” grade. It is an uphill battle to convince investors outside the country because in almost all cases, from their prior experience, only 15% of their funds go to the actual project, 85% goes to red tape, and under-the-table payment to politicians and permitting officials,” he said in a previous interview online.
“Since the mid-1990s I tried to convince executives of investors of renewable
energy (solar, wind, biomass, hydro and geothermal), but every time I mentioned that the project will be in the Philippines, they abruptly lost their interest. I do hope that their thinking will change with the new administration. Most of the officials I talked to think of grandeur things, getting monetary rewards the quickest fashion, hence always want big projects immediately. Examples are the palm oil and Jatropha projects.”
Dr. Cruz opined that to stimulate the energy development in the country, an
energy commission should be formed to advice President Noynoy Aquino on what renewable energy types to be deployed; President’s commitment for a transparent implementation of projects; and allowing energy developers and investors to have more power to operate, control and manage their projects. BY RONALD O. REYES