THE 24.9-megawatt (MW) Lake Mainit Hydro Power Plant in Jabonga, Agusan del Norte was inaugurated Wednesday, July 12, 2023, with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. as main guest.
Marcos, in his speech, welcomed the opening of the facility especially as the power demand of the country continues to increase.
“Initiatives and projects, such as this, are most welcome as they help the country increase the energy supply [and] improve our energy mix by prioritizing the use of renewables,” he said.
“The development of this hydropower site is a defining step towards our goal of securing much needed power for the people of Agusan del Norte and its neighboring areas by taking advantage of its water resources,” he added.
The project, according to Marcos, offers several benefits, which include the generation of socioeconomic opportunities not only to the people of Agusan del Norte but for the rest of Mindanao.
The hydro power plant is seen to transform the energy landscape within the region by providing 100,871 megawatt hours of clean affordable energy to local communities each year.
It is expected to sustainably serve around 45,000 households.
“Moreover, the project is expected to help reduce carbon footprint and improve air quality as hydroelectric power produces very low or zero carbon emissions during electricity generation,” the President said.
Marcos called on the private sector to partner with the government to boost similar efforts to provide affordable, reliable, and clean energy in the country.
He renewed his administration’s commitment to improve bureaucratic processes in the energy sector to attract investors.
The project was developed through the partnership of Markham Resources Corp. and the J-Power Group.
“I look forward certainly to greater cooperation [and] stronger bilateral relations between the Philippines and Japan, especially in the field of renewable energy. I continue to be hopeful that we will come up with more projects that will make use of renewable resources and contribute to our ongoing efforts in solving our energy problems,” said Marcos.
“I urge the local government of Agusan del Norte to provide all the necessary assistance to ensure the efficiency, safety, and productivity of this very important hydropower plant,” he added. (SunStar Philippines)