THE long-proposed Mindanao Power Corporation (Minpocor) will soon be realized under the Duterte administration as the bill seeking for its creation is expected to be refiled in the 17th Congress of the Philippines.
Romeo Montenegro, Mindanao Development Authority (Minda) director for investment promotions and public affairs, told reporters during the Wednesdays’ Habi at Kape at the Abreeza Ayala Mall-Davao that they are optimistic Minpocor will finally come to flesh.
“We stand the chance of getting the Minpocor be approved and legislated in the 17th Congress,” he said.
In the previous Congress, the bill was not realized as it was somehow disregarded to give way for the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).
Montenegro added Minpocor bill has some four version authored by 1-Care partylist, Zamboanga City Representative Celso Lobregat, among others.
The proposed plan of refiling, Montenegro said, was strongly backed by Mindanao business leaders and legislators. Some 60 Mindanaoan representatives were elected in Congress.
“A number of lawmakers have signified to author and co-author the bill,” he said.
“What makes us more positive on this (Minpocor) is that the Senate President (Senator Aquilino Pimentel III) and House Speaker (Davao del Norte Representative Pantaleon Alvarez) are hailed from Mindanao,” Montenegro added.
He also said Pimentel initially eyed to author the Senate version of the bill in the previous Congress.
Once refiled, Montenegro said they are expecting another consolidation as the bill to be filed will be the harmonized version.
Based on the House Bill 2621, or the proposed “Charter of the Mindanao Power Corporation,” authored by Zamboanga City Representative Celso Lobregat seeks to place under government control the Agus-Pulangi complexes through the establishment of Minpocor, a stand-alone government-owned and controlled corporation (GOCC).
Lobregat said “the bill seeks the non-privatization of the Agus-Pulangui hydropower complexes, located in Lanao del Sur and Bukidnon provinces, which considered (to be) the crown jewels of the Mindanao power industry,” as part of efforts to find a viable way to operate and maintain these assets that provide most of the electricity requirements of Mindanao at lower rates.”
The Minpocor shall be empowered to acquire the Agus-Pulangui hydropower complexes from National Power Corporation-Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corporation and raise sufficient funds for operating, maintaining, and improving such assets efficiently.
The Agus-Pulangi complex is one of the two power complexes that Minpocor will control, the other being the Pulangi complex in Bukidnon. These two will provide most of the island's power supply. (ASP)