STAKEHOLDERS belonging to the Mindanao Congress of the Advocates for Renewable Energy and Rural Electrification and Development (MinCARED), have signified to strengthen their advocacy by putting in place a development plan to address power issues on the island in a participatory manner.
MinCARED, which held its 3rd Congress anchored on the theme: “Empowering Mindanao Energy Consumers” on October 29-31. 2014, was focused, among others, on the need to mainstream the Mindanao power agenda to the island’s inhabitants, and pushed for the use of renewable energy to meet the power demand.
Sergio Dagooc, president of the Association of Mindanao Rural Electric Cooperatives (Amreco) said that the need for stakeholders to come together in addressing the power situation in Mindanao is a matter of expediency so that issues and concerns are in due time resolved.
“We have been experiencing the same problem – power crisis – for years and it seems the government is not giving the people in Mindanao the long term solution to our woes,” Dagooc said.
MinCARED has identified problems and solutions that are reinforced with the support from the multi-sectoral groups in shaping a more concrete direction toward emancipating the Mindanao power sector.
More renewable energy
The principal players of the 3rd MinCARED Congrees – Amreco, Mindanao University of Science and Technology (MUST), the Institutre of Power Sector Economics and the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), agreed that with the existing and the soon to operate power generating plants, it is high time that Mindanao push for more renewable energy source and ensure the ample supply of electricity by 2018, and help mitigate global warming.
MinCARED has been responsible in tasking every stakeholder, especially those in the government, to put up their own contribution in seeking for solutions on the Mindanao power crisis.
It was during the first congress, in 2012, that an ordinary consumer realized that the distribution utility is not solely responsible for the frequent rotating brownouts but also the other power industry players involved in the transmission, generation and most importantly the present administration and its policy framework as well.
Formulate policy recommendation
Dagooc said that MinCARED has reached a consensus to formulate policy recommendation to fast track projects of renewable energy.
One of the recommendations is for electric cooperatives to initiate projects within their franchise area by putting in place solar, mini-hydro and other renewable sources of energy.
With regard to the issue on Agus-Pulangi hydro electric power complexes, MinCARED has remained steadfast on its stand against the privatization of Agus-Pulangui, but favors that the complexes will be operated on concession by interested parties.
Dr. Ambrosio B. Cultura II, dean of the College of Engineering and Architecture of MUST, said that one of the doable solutions to mitigate the occurrence of power crisis is to encourage the one-stop facilitation and monitor consumers energizing their homes and buildings with the use of solar panels.
MinCARED supported the implementation of the one-stop facilitation and monitoring center for the RE power project applications in Mindanao where MinDa will be the implementer through the Mindanao Power Monitoring Committee.