Sec. Reyes leads Mindanao power stakeholders’ meeting
Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes yesterday spearheaded the conduct of the Mindanao Power Stakeholder’s meeting here aimed to “ensure the security, reliability and adequacy of electric power supply in the Mindanao grid” amidst the looming power crisis.
Attended by Mayor Celso Lobregat, other Department of Energy (DOE) officials, distribution utilities, power generators, representatives from the business and industrial groups and other stakeholders, the meeting yielded a statement of commitment where the participants acknowledge the significance of their individual and collective contribution and the importance of cooperation in the field of energy as a major strategy embodied in their respective policies to achieve energy security.
Reyes, in his opening statement said he came to the city upon the invitation of Mayor Lobregat and with the intention of discussing the power situation in Region 9 and other parts of Mindanao and to come up with measures to help cushion the impact of the dwindling power generation in the area.
The statement of commitment cited Section 2 of Republic Act No. 9136, otherwise known as the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 or the EPIRA law that declares as a policy, among others, “to ensure the quality, reliability, security, and affordability of the supply of electric power, to protect the public interest as it is affected by the rates and services of electric utilities and other providers of electric power, and to encourage the efficient use of energy and other modalities of demand side management”.
The statement signed by all participants to the meeting also stressed that the El Niño phenomenon has aggravated the current power situation in the Mindanao Grid and has resulted in the need for additional capacity as certified by the System Operator of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) to meet the increasing demand and reserve and this requires immediate action from the Philippine Government to address the situation.
“The government recognizes the critical role of the energy sector in achieving and ensuring power supply reliability and security consistent with its development goals of economic growth through full collaborative effort of other government agencies and in partnership with the private sectors,” the statement read.
The participants committed to fully cooperate in ensuring that there will be adequate and reliable supply of electric power in the Mindanao region; cooperate and assist in resolving power emergency situation in Mindanao and work out schemes to achieve this purpose; agree on specific timelines and deliverables in implementing the following commitments or projects considered during the Power Stakeholders’ Meeting in Mindanao and other such projects to be considered by the Power Stakeholders of Mindanao.
These projects include the expeditious repair of Agus 2-Kibawe 138 KV Lines 1&2 by NGCP; expeditious commissioning of the Maramag-Bunawan 230 KV backbone project by NGCP; expeditious repair/upgrading of the hydropower facilities of the National Power Corporation (NPC); re-operation of the 100 MW Iligan Diesel Power Plant by NPC/PSALM and several others.
Sec. Reyes thanked Mayor Lobregat and the participants for actively participating in the meeting and for sharing views and suggestions to improve the power situation in the area.
He said the statement of commitment will be submitted to Malacañang for action. “We will inform you of the government’s response the soonest possible time.”
The agenda of the meeting included the brief overview of the Philippine Energy Plan presented by Dir. Jesus Tamang of the DOE, presentation of Mindanao power situation and outlook by Mr. Eugene Bicar of the NGCP, reports/ discussion on the status of power plant operations/ status of power projects by the power generators and power project proponents; and the presentation of energy conservation measures by Dir. Mario Marasigan of the DOE.
Also present during the meeting held at the Garden Orchid Hotel were Melinda Ocampo, president of the PGMC; NGCP President Walter Brown, NPC president Froilan Tampinco and members of the DOE family. (Sheila Covarrubias)