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Thursday, August 03, 2006
Valencia eyed electronics capital of RP
By Rachel M. Nessia
VALENCIA, Negros Oriental -- Valencia town may well soon be the electronics capital of the Philippines after President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo cited the municipality for its potential to attract investors in the semi-conductor awareness business during her State of the Nation Address (Sona) last July 24.
"Valencia, Oriental Negros could attract semiconductor firms with power rates subsidized by the geothermal field of Palinpinon," the President said in her Sona.
Reacting to the Sona, Valencia Mayor Rodolfo Gonzales said the entry of the investors would result to more jobs in the municipality.
Des Tilos Jr., Valencia information officer, said the local government's direction is on the right track towards realizing the President's vision.
"The Municipal Government has long been working towards providing the necessary infrastructure to support this anticipated development, like good roads and access to water," Tilos said.
The municipality, he said, has also been rehabilitating its service lines to ensure a stable supply of electricity in Valencia.
Efforts are also being exerted to improve the communication infrastructure in the town, which Tilos said, was critical for Valencia to draw in potential investors.
Valencia is enjoying power subsidy as a result of royalties from the Philippine National Oil Corporation (PNOC) since three of its barangays play host to PNOC's geothermal plants, namely Puhagan, Mala-unay, and Caidiocan.
Residents of the host barangays are enjoying a higher power subsidy compared to those in other 24 barangays that get a P600 subsidy from the Municipal Government.
Residents in the host barangays are also receiving a power subsidy counterpart from their barangay in addition to the P600 per electric meter subsidy.
A total of P1,500 per meter subsidy is provided to the residents of Puhagan and Malaunay and commercial establishments receive P3,000 electric subsidy.
For Caidiocan, residents receive a P1,100 per meter subsidy. The barangay shoulders 15 percent of the electric bill of the commercial establishments, Tilos said.
The number of households energized in Valencia is 5,5557 as of June 6 or 99.9 percent, he said.
(August 3, 2006 issue)
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