DAVAO City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (DCCII) president Arturo Milan said there was an eight-percent growth rate in Davao City’s power consumption as the city welcomes infrastructure development over the last three years.
“So atong consumption nag-increase from a yearly average of 4.5 percent to 8 percent. So ug magpadayon ni at the rate we are going ug kung mag double digit ni siya, then kanang excess nato sa power mashorten sa mga sunod na tuig (Our consumption increased from a yearly average of 4.5 percent to 8 percent. So if this continues at the rate we are going and if the rate reaches double digit, then our power excess will be shorten in the next years),” Milan said, adding that within the last three years, a power supply excess of 800 to 1,000 megawatts (MW) is available in Mindanao.
Milan said the presidency of Rodrigo Duterte in 2016 contributed to the increase in power consumption in the city as more investments poured in.
“When our then mayor Rodrigo Duterte became president our city became attractive. We can a see a lot of property developments happening,” Milan said.
Milan cited the establishments of hotel facilities like Dusit Thani in Lanang, Peaklane along J.P Laurel Avenue, and The Paragon Davao in Matina which have contributed to the recorded increase in power consumption.
Milan also suggested for a creation of an additional 300MW power plant in Mindanao in order to address the rising concern on power consumption.
“If not, then we might face a power shortage in the next three years,” Milan said.
Milan, moreover, said the GNPower Kauswagan Ltd. Co. (GNPK) by the Ayala company in Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte has a power capacity of 552MW, and is a good source for power supply in Mindanao. (GAD)