#MayMagagawaKa: Powersaving by Simply Changing to LED Lights

The Philippine government has recently announced that a few hours of rotational brownout implementation is highly possible this summer. 

Fabia Tetteroo-Bueno, Philips

Call it mismanagement on the part of the government or simply a case of too much demand given a very limited resources, we as a people can help mitigate the situation on a personal level by giving doing share on saving on power consumption.



Last night, at the Philips press conference, shared their #MayMagagawaKa campaign (You Can Do Something) encouraging Filipinos to start saving energy NOW to manage the impending power shortage this summer and the years that follow.

“A power outage can be catastrophic for the economy,” said Fabia Tetteroo-Bueno, Country Manager of Philips Philippines, during the campaign launch on Wednesday. 

Jointly organized by Philips, Deutsche Investitions- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbH (DEG) Bank, World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Philippines, and the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP), the #MayMagagawaKa campaign seeks to raise awareness and build urgency on energy conservation in the country.

Gregg Yan

The campaign comes on the heels of the Malampaya maintenance shutdown—which left a 700-megawatt void in the local power grid and renewed the mounting calls for energy conservation in the country.

“When it comes to power interruptions, it affects the quality of power and disrupts business,” said Henry Schumacher, Executive Vice President of ECCP. 

Saving energy is also an emerging environmental issue. Lighting alone accounts for almost a fifth of global energy—equivalent to 1.9 billion tons of carbon emissions every year.

The LED Revolution

“We are consuming way beyond our limits,” described Joel Palma, WWF President and Chief Executive Officer. “Saving energy is one way to help manage this deficit, and with most energy coming from fossil fuels, less consumption of energy means lesser production of greenhouse gases—thereby lessening impact on climate change.”

May Magagawa Ka

As part of the #MayMagagawaKa campaign, Philips launched an online video series on Facebook and YouTube last month featuring real-life testimonials from Filipinos, whose lives were or would be afflicted by power outages—including small-business owners, tricycle operators, employees, and homeowners.

When it comes to electrical consumption, she advised, it is the little things that matter—like switching from conventional lighting to LED.

10,000 LED Bulbs Challenge

Lighting Matters

In the Philippines, the lack of LED product standards have led to a proliferation of substandard units in the market. She added, “These units compromise efficiency and safety.

On average, lighting accounts for 20-30 percent of a Philippine household’s monthly electrical bill—underscoring its importance in energy conservation at the household level. Based on studies from Philips, switching to LEDs can reduce home lighting energy consumption by 85 percent.

“Of the P1000 you spend on your electricity every month, approximately P200 goes to lighting. If you made the simple switch to LED, the P200 could become P30—giving you P170 worth of energy savings,” Tetteroo-Bueno elaborated.

At the same time, switching to LEDs can reduce a household’s carbon emissions by 50 to 70 percent. Furthermore, studies from Philips illustrate that well-designed LEDs have an extended service life—greatly reducing waste generation when replacements are considered.
Campaign Awareness

To help promote the cause, the Philips #MayMagagawaKa campaign partnered with graphic design studio Team Manila Lifestyle to create three limited-edition shirt designs.

Supporters of the campaign can get the shirt for free with every purchase of Philips LED lights in participating stores. They will also be given away as exclusive prizes in an ongoing Facebook contest in the Philips LED PH facebook page for Philips’ annual switch-off event for Earth Hour with WWF.

To reach an even wider audience, the campaign will partner with local government units (LGUs) for a series of barangay-level activities dedicated to promoting the cause.

Collaboration with Team Manila Lifestyle for the Shirts

Philips x WWF-Philippines

Know more about the #MayMagagawaKa campaign and Philips through their website www.philips.com.ph. You can also call the Philips customer hotline numberat +632.6679000 if you are within Metro Manila or 1-800-10-7445477 if you are outside Metro Manila in the Philippines.