Govt’s re-entry to power-generation won’t solve brownout woes

DAVAO CITY- If the government will return to power generation it won’t solve the brownouts happening particularly in Mindanao.

This according to Energy Secretary Jericho Petilla during the inauguration of the 14-megawatt Tudaya Hydropower Plant in Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur held today (May 13).

Petilla said that building a power generating plant takes about four years or longer. If ever government decides to go back to building power plants it won’t solve the ongoing problem.

 He said that additional power plants will go online by 2015, this will include the 300 Megawatt  Aboitiz Coal Plant in Davao.

Petilla admitted that there is a great pressure for the government to return to power generation.

Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) signed into law in 2001, prohibited the government from engaging in power generation.

Currently the Mindanao grid has a system deficiency of 232 megawatts (as of May 13, 2014), which results to hours of rotating brownouts in many places in the region.

Petilla said they are moving heaven and earth to extract power from different sources but the problem is the lack of power generation facilities.

Meanwhile Rene Ronquillo, president and chief operations officer of HedCor which built and operates the Tudaya Hydropower Plant, said that the plant although will not solve the Mindanao power crisis, will go a long way  in helping local communities, aside from giving power, it also has provided revenue and employment to host communities.

Davao Light and Power Company has contracted 6.6 megawatts of the Tudaya Hydro Power Plant 1 while Davao del Sur Electric Cooperative (DASURECO) has contracted 7 megawatt from the plant. With additional power, DASURECO is among the few electric cooperative in Mindanao enjoying adequate power. 

Petilla cited DASURECO for having the initiative to contract out power from other sources, which has shielded them from crippling brownouts. The energy secretary also cited the local government of Sta. Cruz for being very supportive of the project.Petilla cited cases where many power projects are delayed because of opposition or non-support from LGUs. (PIA/RG Alama)