Thursday, July 10, 2008 Private sector urged to invest in power generation By Joy Romares-Sevilla
ANTICIPATING a higher power demand in the next three years, the Regional Development Council (RDC) 11 is urging the private sector to invest in power supply generation in the region.
"RDC believes that investments coming from the private sector are needed even as government is embarking on major projects that would bring power supply from Northern Mindanao to Davao Region," Nicasio Angelo Agustin, RDC 11 vice chair and Neda 11 director, said during RDC's Second Quarterly Meeting on Tuesday at the Waterfront Insular Hotel.
Agustin revealed that big private corporations are about to establish more shopping malls, other consumer-oriented centers, business process outsourcing facilities, and condominiums, particularly in Davao City.
"These investments will likely put pressure on the region's power supply," he said.
He added that the council is pushing for the private sector to supplement government investments in power supply not only to ease pressure on the region's power supply brought about by increasing economic activities but also to further entice more investments in the region.
Meanwhile, with the completion of the Maramag-Bunawan segment of its Abaga-Bunawan 230kw transmission line project in 2009, Agustin said the region would have additional power supply next year.
He said that the Transmission Corporation (Transco) in its report to RDC has assured the region of this additional power supply.
Once completed, the segment, which runs from Maramag, Bukidnon to Bunawan, Davao City, can be used to tap into the 385 MW Pulangi hydropower plant in Maramag and bring electricity to Davao Region.
"Transco is expected to fully complete the other segments of the transmission projects by 2011," Agustin said, adding that the full completion of the project will allow more power supply from Northern Mindanao to flow to the region.
The council is also encouraging the tapping of other energy sources, such as wind energy. Agustin said the use of wind energy is being explored by the private sector and the government in Davao Oriental. (JGRS/With press release)
