THE Department of Energy revealed on Wednesday, March 6, that all over Visayas, Negros Occidental is the only major area with no inland reliable power source in the next five years.
Rey Maleza, Chief Energy Management Division of the Department of Energy (DOE)-Visayas said on Wednesday that within this year, three coal- fired power plants will be opening which are located in Cebu and Iloilo.
One unit is located in Iloilo and two units are located in Cebu, he said.
“This additional 480 Megawatts to be generated from the three power plants will suffice for the Visayas requirements in the next five years,” Maleza pointed out.
He said that the investors are the one choosing the area where to put up the power plants that should pass all the permit requirements of the local government units and other concerned government agencies.
“The resistance of the people as well as the local government officials is one factor that could affect the choice of the investors. Regardless of energy source, it is an advantage for an area having an inland power source,” Maleza said.
Maleza with some officials from the DOE and the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) were resource speakers on Wednesday’s hearing conducted by the Committee on Energy of the Provincial Board (PB) relative to the ordinance pushed by Governor Alfredo Maranon to declare the province coal free.
Board Member Manuel Frederick Ko, chair of the committee on energy, said that they will soon come up with a report as they are almost done with the hearings conducted. After which, the committee on environment will conduct hearings and also make their report. Vice Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson has assured that all parties, the pro and anti-coal will be heard by the PB before they would come up with the decision.
Task Force Election
Maleza revealed that the DOE-Visayas already organized Task Force Election where all the stakeholders in the power industry are members.
The task group is to make sure stable power supply and provide the necessary connections in all the voting places for the May 13 elections.
“We are mobilizing all the distribution utilities, transmission companies and all the power generators to abide with the provisions on the Comelec (Commission on Elections) ruling to provide stable supply of power before, during and after the elections,” Maleza added.