CALAPAN CITY, ORIENTAL MINDORO – As part of the agency’s efforts to improve the power situation in Mindoro Oriental, Mindoro Occidental and Lubang Island, the Department of Energy (DOE) held the first Power Summit for Mindoro Islands on 4 November at the Hotel Filipiniana.
“Today’s gathering aims to uphold what is best for our province and the Mindoreños. What runs deep among all of us here today is our desire for Mindoro’s progress. Crucial to this is having sufficient, reliable, and affordable electricity for all,” DOE Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi stressed in his opening message.
The Energy Chief called for the Summit to provide concerned stakeholders with an avenue for objective, constructive, and unhindered dialogue on enhancing the condition of electricity services throughout the province.
MINDORO ISLAND’S PROBLEMATIC POWER SITUATION
For years, the whole of Mindoro has been plagued by various power issues. These include frequent power interruptions due to reliance on outdated power facilities, which had been further damaged by Typhoons Nona (2015) and Nina (2016); heavily subsidized generation rates stemming from strong dependence on diesel and bunker fuel; delays in proposed energy projects; uneven electrification rates across provinces; and administrative issues of electric cooperatives (ECs) serving the area.
In response to said challenges, the energy family has undertaken several remedial measures to date, such as the Performance Assessment of the Oriental Mindoro Electric Cooperative, Inc. (ORMECO) in 2017; administrative interventions, which paved the way for managerial reforms in ORMECO; upgrading National Power Corporation’s (NPC) 69 kilovolt transmission lines; studies on power system protection coordination; support for the development of new mini-hydro projects in the province; continued funding for electrification projects; and the DOE’s proposed major strategic planning study on an Integrated Power Development Master Plan for the entire island.
AN INCLUSIVE APPROACH TO TRANSFORMATION
All relevant stakeholders were invited to the Power Summit to ensure its inclusivity. In addition to members of the energy family, also present were Occidental Mindoro Governor Eduardo Gadiano; Oriental Mindoro Governor Humerlito Dolor; Municipal Mayors and other local government unit officials; management and personnel of ORMECO, Occidental Mindoro Electric Cooperative, Inc. (OMECO), and Lubang Electric Cooperative Inc. (LUBELCO); as well as representatives from other government agencies and the private sector.
The event featured comprehensive sessions on topics crucial to the strengthening of Mindoro’s power systems, with DOE Undersecretary and Spokesperson Felix William B. Fuentebella and DOE-Electric Power Industry Management Bureau Director Mario C. Marasigan kicking off discussions on the government’s policies and programs for the island grid of Mindoro.
Meanwhile, the National Electrification Administration led by Administrator Edgardo R. Masongsong talked about the performance of Mindoro’s distribution utilities (DUs).
The National Power Corporation, on the other hand, provided updates on the much-awaited integrated Mindoro Backbone Grid.
ORMECO, OMECO, and LUBELCO also gave presentations on the power situation and outlook in their respective coverage areas.
At the close of the Summit, Secretary Cusi reiterated his calls for the usual support and coordination among all the stakeholders, most especially the provincial government, ECs, and 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," the Energy Chief concluded.
###