POWER SHORTAGE IN BACOLOD: BROWNOUTS REACH CRITICAL LEVEL
BACOLOD CITY, MAY 10, 2008 (STAR) THE SOUTHERN BEAT By Rolly Espina - Power outages in Bacolod City and its environs have reached critical points. And they have even compromised the monitoring machines at the new Silay Airport, four of them virtually rendered useless. So with the National Bureau of Investigation’s computers for personal screening.The power shortage in Bacolod has prompted airline passengers to complain that their baggage have to undergo screening by security personnel who do it by hand, opening up and sifting through their luggage.
The other day, I was shocked to learn that the Iloilo Electric Cooperative I cut off the power supply to the new Iloilo Airport in Cabatuan for three hours. The reason, though, was not loss of power. Rather, it was the failure of the Air Transportation Office to pay its P5.7-million electric bill.
Air navigation, however, was not hampered because the ATO activated its emergency generators. The timely intervention by Iloilo Gov. Niel Tupas solved the power cutoff, which lasted for three hours. But Gov. Tupas had to assure the electric cooperative that ATO would settle its obligation within seven working days.
In Bacolod, Central Negros Electric Cooperative chairman Roberto Montelibano told energy officials that the firm cannot address the power shortage since it is dependent on power from the Philippine National Oil Corp. Its geothermal plant in Mailum, Bago City can generate only four megawatts against the 49 megawatts needed to ease the situation.
There has been a rising crescendo of complaints about destroyed household appliances and electrical equipment, causing untold losses to businesses in the city and nearby cities such as Bago, Silay, and Talisay.
The crisis situation brought to Negros Occidental and Oriental Negros the country’s top energy officials, headed by Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes. In Oriental Negros, it was Paul Aquino, president and CEO of the Philippine National Oil Co.-Energy Development Corp.
Buffer zone entry
Aquino stressed in Oriental Negros Wednesday that the power outages in areas serviced by the PNOC-EDC can be solved or minimized if the firm is allowed access to the buffer zone of the Mt. Kanlaon National Park in Negros Occidental.
But he was addressing the wrong crowd. Officials of the Bacolod Diocese, headed by Bishop Vicente Navarra, and environmental groups are the ones who have been opposing the entry of PNOC-EDC into the buffer zone.
Thus, Energy Secretary Reyes on Wednesday put on wait the Negros Occidental officials and stakeholders while he called on Bishop Navarro to impress upon the prelate the urgency of allowing the PNOC-EDC access to the geothermal source in the buffer zone.
Gov. Isidro Zayco, meanwhile, said he expects the Sangguniang Panlalawigan to reach a decision on the issue of access to solve once and for all the problem of the rotating brownouts that have been plaguing Ceneco customers.
Bishop Navarra yesterday said he is standing pat on his position against the entry of PNOC-EDC into the Mt. Kanlaon National Park buffer zone, adding though that he could not do anything about it if the government goes ahead with the project.
On Wednesday night, in an one-on-one talk with Reyes, Navarra agreed with strongest reservation with Reyes’ plan to go ahead with the project subject to the crafting of the necessary guidelines and rules that could pinpoint responsibility if anything happens.
Reyes agreed with the prelate that, as former secretary of the DENR, he, too, was concerned that the project could destroy the flora and fauna there. He promised that only indigenous trees would be used in reforesting the denuded area if that happens.
Former Senator John Osmeña, however, came to the rescue with his statement yesterday that allowing PNOC-EDC entry into the buffer zone of the North Negros geothermal power plant in Bago City is the most expeditious and immediate answer to the current power problem of Negros Occidental.
“There is no free meal. If we want power, we have to make a sacrifice,” the former lawmaker said.
Zayco, on the other hand, expects the SP to be able to come up with a decision on whether to concur with the PNOC-EDC plan by next week.
The NNGP has a capacity for 49 megawatts but generates only four megawatts.
Reyes is expected to meet here on Thursday with the PNOC-EDC and DENR to address the impact on biodiversity and the park’s flora and fauna. He had outlined a plan to Bishop Navarra that would give assurance on responsibility.
Reyes will present on Thursday to the prelate and environmentalists as well as to the other stakeholders the government position and mitigating plans. This, he said, is to give assurance that if the project pushes through, they would understand what is going to be done.
Osmeña, on the other hand, cited what the National Power Corp. has done in Negros Oriental’s Nueva Valencia forested area and the one in Tinongan, Leyte, where the forested areas are among the best in the country.
He also said he is putting up an integrated waste management facility in Negros Occidental that will recycle waste and turn biodegradable garbage into organic fertilizer.
He said the project will tap the waste from the cities of Bago, Bacolod, Silay and Talisay as well as Victorias and Murcia towns.
Well, the only thing to do now is wait for the next meeting between Reyes and the other stakeholders on whether there can be a solution to the power shortage. The only problem is that no one has come up with an alternative to the present situation.
Reported by: Sol Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2003
by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE
All rights reserved