Lobregat convenes disaster council on state of calamity
Very much aware about the power situation in MIndanao, Mayor Celso Lobregat briefs the City Disaster Coordinating Council which he convened in City Hall Friday to tackle issues concerning the Malacañang declaration of a state of calamity in MIndanao due to power crisis. (JOEY BAUTISTA)
Mayor Celso Lobregat yesterday convened the City Disaster Coordinating Council to discuss plans and measures following the issuance of a presidential executive order placing the entire Mindanao under a state of calamity.
Immediate solutions to the present rotating blackouts were discussed after Mayor Lobregat briefed the members on the present power situation in Mindanao and other details that he discussed with Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes during the Mindanao Power Stakeholders Meeting held in the city recently.
“With the President’s declaration of a state of calamity in Mindanao, the city government can now use its calamity fund to mitigate the effects of the power shortage, and to provide at least temporary solutions to the rotating blackouts in the city,” Lobregat said, adding that the city’s calamity fund is about P70 million or 5% of its annual budget last year.
Lobregat explained that short-term solutions are needed to end the rotating blackouts in the city, while hoping for the rains to come sometime in June. He stressed that 50% of the power in Mindanao comes from the hydro plants which are severely affected by the spell.
“The Agus is only generating about 20% of its capacity, while the Pulangi Plant operates at 10% only, thus the power deficiency of about 600 megawatt,” he said during the CDCC meeting.
As this developed, the CDCC members have approved a resolution, supporting the bid of the Zamboanga City Electric Cooperative (Zamcelco) to invite investors to install and operate modular generators exclusively for the city. Provided, however, the consumers are willing to pay higher rates.
This, after Zamcelco General Manager Reinerio Ramos informed the august body that a group of investors is intending to put up bunker-fueled generators in the city. Ramos said he will be meeting with the investors on Tuesday to finalize the plan. It is expected to be realized in a month’s time.
Meanwhile, several other resolutions were approved by the disaster council one of which was the recommendation to extend the cloud seeding operation to induce rain in the amount of P2.7 million to be charged against the city’s calamity fund.
The council has also approved the purchase of standby power generating sets and emergency lights for vital installations like the Red Cross for its blood bank facility, City Health Office for its X-ray machines, the city jail, the fire station and the Patrol 117.
Meanwhile, the council has deferred action on Zamcelco’s plan to negotiate a coal-fired power plant with Conal Holdings Inc., pending feasibility study and clearance on environmental hazards as feared by some sectors.
Off hand, the chief executive favors the plan provided it will comply with the existing environmental laws. He suggested sectoral representatives be given a tour of the existing coal-fired plants in Luzon, for them to see the actual operations. (PIO)