AS PART of government efforts to provide reliable, stable and sufficient power supply in the Visayas, Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi led the inauguration ceremony of the Panay Energy Development Corporation's (PEDC) 150-megawatt expansion project located in Barangay Ingore, La Paz, Iloilo City, on November 23.

In his keynote address, Cusi emphasized that community acceptability is one of the major considerations in putting up a coal-fired power plant or any other energy development project.

“We need reliable and cheap power supply to support our economic development, especially in this fast growing region of Visayas,” said Cusi.

The Energy secretary underscored the importance of the PEDC’s expansion project in addressing the Visayas power situation, which has been experiencing yellow and red alerts or insufficient power supply.

Cusi urged strict adherence by coal-fired power plant operators to existing national and international environmental policies and regulations to help mitigate climate change.

“I am pro-environment. My challenge for you (referring to the plant operators) is how to co-exist with your neighbors,” he said.

Cusi also cited the benefits of Barangay Ingore and Iloilo City as the host community under Energy Regulation 1-94.

"You can use this fund to develop the community and uplift the quality of life of Ilonggos," he said. (PR)