Davao del Sur News

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DOE Assures Power Supply Improvement

DAVAO CITYThe Department of Energy (DOE) has assured energy stakeholders in Mindanao that the government is taking its best efforts in addressing the power situation in the island.

DOE Undersecretary Josefina Patricia Asirit made the assurance during the Mindanao Energy Stakeholders Meeting on Tuesday here, as she presented DOE’s undertakings and recommended solutions to improve the power supply in Mindanao.

Asirit told power distributors and electric cooperatives across Mindanao of the current power supply deficit of 100-160 megawatts in the Mindanao grid from 360 MW during the previous months.

As part of the short-term solutions to this condition, Asirit said DOE is pushing for the re-opening of the Iligan Diesel Power Plant (IDPP), which has been closed since June 2010 pending evaluations and clearance by the Commission on Audit (COA).

Once operational, IDPP is expected to produce an initial power of 20-30 MW and may increase up to its full capacity of 100 MW upon rehabilitation, Asirit stated.

“We hope we can put it online within the next four months, if not earlier,” she told the media in a press conference held after the stakeholders’ meeting on the same day in this city.

Another short-term solution being mulled by DOE is the transfer of power barges as stop-gap measures needed in Mindanao.

Asirit said two power barges are up for transfer next year that would provide 120 MW and 70 MW respectively. “This would certainly be more than enough to help augment the 200 MW shortfall,” she said.

She said there is one power barge existing with a 32-MW capacity but is only generating 5 MW due to its location in a cement plant.

The rest of the existing power barges also with a 32-MW capacity each require maintenance to operate full generation capacity, she added.

DOE’s short-term solutions include the installation of the Mindanao Coal-fired Power Plant of the STEAG State Power, Inc. which has a 10 MW un-contracted capacity, and the acceleration of energy efficiency program.

Asirit explained that these short-term solutions are temporary just as not to hamper the development of the industry, while DOE is also making efforts for the long-term solutions.

In averting the power situation in Mindanao from becoming a crisis in the future, DOE saw the need for technical rehabilitation and upgrading of power generation plants to generate more power.

The DOE official said the 180-MW Pulangi Complex run-off river hydropower plant will need to be repaired starting this month to operate in its full generation capacity.

For the period of April to May, Pulangi river will be at its lowest water elevations which will reduce power generation of about 100-130 MW.

However, Asirit clarified that Pulangi Complex is still generating in its full capacity of 180MW as of this time, and explained that the rehabilitation plan is aimed at preventing the plant from further damage.

Combined power sources lead to minimal power cost hike in Mindanao

DAVAO CITY- Power consumers in Mindanao may only have to pay additional 50 to 80 centavos per kWh to their electricity cost as electric cooperatives have started getting supply from power barges like Therma Marine.

During the stakeholders’ meeting initiated by the Department of Energy (DOE) yesterday at the Grand Regal Hotel, this city, Energy Undersecretary Josefina Patricia Asirit explained that consumers will only have to pay a very minimal additional amount from the generation of power from expensive technologies like power barges and blending it with power generated from Mindanao plants.

At present, there are two power barges in Mindanao operated by the Aboitiz-owned Therma Marine Inc. (TMI).

The government instructed for the blending of the cheap power generated from Agus and the costly power generated from power barges and diesel plants as an immediate solution to the power shortage.

“The cost of power is cheapest here in Mindanao. And even if rate adjustments will be made, consumers in Mindanao will just have to pay P3.50 as power cost, still way cheaper than the existing approved rate in Luzon and Visayas which runs from P5 to P6,"

The official clarified that consumers need not worry on certain claims that rate adjustments could go as high as P12 per kWh. “You will just be paying the cost of the blended mix.”

Asirit cited the experience of some electric cooperatives which showed that the increase in the power cost runs at 50 centavos per kwh.

“This is the easiest solution we could think of but it also comes with a manageable cost,” she said.

The energy department is asking the consumers to bear with these adjustments as the stakeholders are doing both short- and long-term solutions to this power shortage.

Energy officials expect these adjustments to be temporary as the government pursues to find other sources like the rehabilitation of the Agus-Pulangi hydropower complex and the building of more power plants in Mindanao.

DavSur town all set for environment festival

DAVAO CITY- The Municipality of Sta. Cruz will be holding the 12th staging of the Pista sa Kinaiyahan (Nature’s Festival) this coming April 26 to 29.

The festival will feature events which are geared towards environmental preservation and conservation. Among the activities include, an art and fashion exhibition featuring recycled materials converted to art works, Mangrove planting, and Mt. Apo clean-up.

Pista sa Kinaiyahan will also feature adventure sporting events aimed at promoting Sta. Cruz as an ideal eco-tourism site in the region.

The festival’s main event is the 2nd International Mt. Apo Boulder Face Challenge set this coming April 28 to 29. The extreme sports adventure race will combine four extreme sports disciplines: mountain biking, trekking, white water tubing, and running. This race involves teams to traverse the coastal areas of Sta. Cruz and climb up to the peak of the country’s highest mountain Mt. Apo at 10,000 feet above sea level.

About 46 teams from Australia, Vietnam and Singapore have slated their intention to participate in the race. They will have to beat the record of 22 hours 51 minutes and 42 seconds set by a team from Carmen, Davao del Norte, the inaugural champions during the initial staging of the event last year.

According to Municipal Councilor Fernando Ugdoracion, the local government has budgeted P500,000 for the 2nd Mt. Apo Boulder Face Challenge, which is being also supported by the Department of Tourism. The event has already gained acclaim as one of the toughest eco-adventure races in the country.

Davao women to lead campaign vs junk foods

DAVAO CITY- Members of the Mothers for Peace Movement in Mindanao (M4P) will take the lead in a “food revolution” campaign or the fight against junk foods in city schools starting July this year.

M4P will launch the Mothers for Peace SuperFood Carts in Davao City in time for the Nutrition Month celebration in July in a bid to promote healthy foods organically produced and cooked by the city’s rural women.

Patmei Ruivivar, program officer of the Mindanao Commission on Women (MCW) that organized the M4P, disclosed this during the Kapihan sa PIA on March 30 featuring women issues in observance of the Women’s Month.

Ruivivar said the campaign will also support the city government’s ordinance that bans junk foods in schools.

“The food revolution campaign will start in schools to educate parents on healthy foods, and help them change the eating habits of their children,” she stated, mentioning that the Assumption College of Davao is one that adheres to no-to-junk foods policy inside its school campus.

She said the Mothers for Peace SuperFood Carts will be installed in different schools in the city to sell nutritious and delicious foods in food carts.

Davao City will be the pilot area for this health and at the same time economic enterprise for women in Mindanao as part of MCW’s Mothers for Peace Social Enterprise Program.

MCW launched this enterprise program during the Women’s Market that brought more than 20 women’s groups and food producers all over Mindanao in time for the women’s month celebration on March 8 this year in the city, Ruivivar said.

MCW, established in 2001 by Mindanao women leaders, is a non-government organization that advocates for Mindanao peace and development agenda from women’s perspective. The M4P is MCW’s grassroots base.

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