Havana, September 18 (RHC)-- Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel continued his tour of provinces on Wednesday to oversee the implementation of measures to mitigate the effects of the energy difficulties in the country deriving from stepped up US hostility against the island.

On Wednesday, the Cuban head state visited the provinces of Guantanamo, Santiago de Cuba, Granma and Holguin, where he met with local Communist Party and government officials.

In Guantanamo, Diaz-Canel highlighted some of the measures adopted in province which, he said, will be shared with other provinces, and mentioned among them the priority given to the construction of housing in places where there are resources to continue that program, the expansion of water fillers to reduce fuel consumption and  wells for storing water.

Meanwhile, In Santiago de Cuba, Diaz-Canel verified the productive and social arrangements undertaken in the area to save energy consumption, and was told that the province has managed to save from 9 to 5 megawatts/hour during peak hours, while efforts are being made food production lines with minimum consumption of diesel fuel.

The president told the meeting that while some economic activities have been temporarily halted, and others have been slowed down, workers should not be sent home, but should temporarily work in other tasks.

He added that the idle labor force could be used in agriculture, in the fight against the mosquito, and in other needed actions that do not require the use of machineries.

During his visit to the province of Granma, the president acknowledged several positive experiences, such as the use of animal traction in different activities, adequate information to the people, and the startup of motor cars, including one for an urban tour in Bayamo.

During the intense day, the Cuban president was joined by Vice President Salvador Valdes Mesa, Commander of the Revolution Ramiro Valdes, and the ministers of the Economy, Planning and Transport.