The Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi has called on industry players of Mindoro’s local power sector to collaborate to ensure sufficient, reliable, and affordable electricity for consumers.
“It is our primary duty to faithfully serve the Filipino people at all times. And while we have laid the groundwork in transforming the state of power in our province, we should continue to double our collective efforts as much work still lies ahead,” Cusi was quoted in a Manila bulletin report.
A power summit was held at Filipiniana Hotel in Calapan in hopes to improve the power situation in Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, and Lubang Island which have been experiencing power problems including old power plants and lines, delays in planned energy projects, and increasing electrification rates.
Cusi told attendees that the department already conducted the necessary steps to help local electric cooperatives, including performance assessments in 2017; administrative interventions that paved the way for managerial reforms in Oriental Mindoro Electric Cooperative (ORMECO); studies on power system protection coordination; support for the development of new mini-hydroelectric projects in the province; continued funding for electrification projects; and the DOE’s proposed major strategic planning study, the Integrated Power Development Master Plan for the entire island.
DOE Undersecretary Felix William B. Fuentebella and DOE-Electric Power Industry Management Bureau Director Mario C. Marasigan discussed the significance of the power program to the government.
Meanwhile, Oriental Mindoro Governor Humerlito Dolor has appealed to Oriental Mindoro Electric Cooperative (ORMECO) for more transparency in selecting its power providers to ensure a more reliable and sustainable power supply for the province.
Dolor added that all National Power Corporation (NAPOCOR) transmission lines will become fully operational to serve all towns including Bulalaco, the southernmost town of Oriental Mindoro.
The governor also praised NAPOCOR when it completed the rehabilitation of 69 kilovolts transmission line from the tourist town of Puerto Galera to Bansud.
“There are less brownouts now compared to a few years back when the NAPOCOR power grid was brought down by successive strong typhoons such as Nona in 2015 and Nina in 2016,” Dolor said.
