DAVAO CITY, Feb. 05 – A special inter-agency
task force will now address the growing concern on the transmission tower
bombings and right-of-way (ROW) issues posing economic impediment in Mindanao
despite the additional 770 megawatts of power capacity coming in this year in
the region.
During the Principals’ Meeting of the Mindanao
Power Monitoring Committee (MPMC) held in Davao on 04 February 2016, Energy
Secretary Zenaida Y. Monsada emphasized that transmission and distribution
facilities are critical infrastructures in delivering electricity to the
end-users (individuals, households, industries and businesses), in which
bombings and ROW issues delay and hinder progress for the people of Mindanao.
“We have to work all together, both the
Mindanaoans and industry participants, as there can be no development without
power or stable power fuels development,” she added.
The meeting was attended by representatives from
the DOE, Mindanao Development Authority led by Secretary Luwalhati R. Antonino,
the National Electrification Administration, the National Power Corp., the
Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management, the National Transmission
Corporation (TransCo), the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP),
the Mindanao Electric Power Alliance and the Association of Mindanao Rural
Electric Cooperatives.
With the recent transmission situation in the
area becoming of national interest, Secretary Monsada relayed that early this
week, President Benigno S. Aquino created the Inter-Agency Task Force for the
Security of Energy Facilities (IATFSEF) to be spearheaded by the Department of
Energy (DOE).
The IATFSEF is composed of sub-task groups with
strategic heads which will focus on critical issues, such as, TransCo for the
ROW, the Philippine National Police and Armed Forces of the Philippines for
security matters, the Department of Justice (DOJ) for the legal aspect, NGCP
for the community relations and DOE for the information, education and
communication (IEC) campaign.
For the ROW, one of the measures is to provide
the inventory and identification of the lands including the vegetation and
structures involved, valuation of the properties, capability to implement
expropriations and/or execute restoration activities, and identification of
priority areas.
On the security concerns, first and foremost
nearby communities are called upon again to help scout and secure the
transmission facilities.
Members of the police and the military will be
involved to augment and assist them.
Secretary Monsada also underlines that the
government is seeking all legal recourse following the persistent concerns
compromising the country’s power facilities.
In this regard, the legal sub-task group will
explore and exhaust all legal remedies available to ensure that any actions
taken by the IATFSEF are within the bounds of the law.
Moreover, stronger community relations through
massive IEC campaigns and strengthened corporate social responsibility
activities are some of the measures that will resolve the matter.
With the task force activated, the government is
now determined for a swift resolution of the bombings of transmission
facilities and ROW in Mindanao to ensure progress and peace and order in the
region. The task force is directed to report to the President on its progress
on a weekly basis.
Meanwhile, after the MPMC meeting, the DOE and
representatives from TransCo, NGCP, and MinDA also met with the Davao City
Chamber of Commerce & Industry (DCCCI) upon its invitation to discuss the
various issues related to energy in Mindanao affecting their business and
operations.
It is also the objective of the DOE to include
the business sector in crafting and executing plans to address power supply
situation in Mindanao.
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