Mindanao electric co-ops want to tap renewable-energy sources

Business Mirror
THURSDAY, 12 JANUARY 2012 19:03 BUTCH D. ENERIO / CORRESPONDENT


CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY—Power distributors in Mindanao are advocating for renewable energy as alternative power sources for the island’s grid, rural electrification and development in a three-day congress here.


The Association of Mindanao Rural Electric Cooperatives (Amreco) said that the upcoming congress, slated from Jan. 25 to 27 at the Grand Caprice, would be attended by more than 300 stakeholders coming from the different electric cooperatives (EC).


Clint Django Pacana, Amreco executive director, said the expected participants will come from the organization’s 33 member-cooperatives who have committed to join the “Congress of the Advocates for Renewable Energy, Rural Electrification and Development.”


Amreco’s 33 member-cooperatives account for service to 1,941,554 residential consumers in Mindanao, where 27 of the member-cooperatives are hooked up with the island’s transmission grid while another six operate in the off-grid islands surrounding the mainland.


“We are advocating for rural electrification as the way to address Mindanao’s chronic power shortage,” Pacana said in an interview.


During the congress the participants in grouping would tackle issues on good governance; knowledge products; finance and investments; and the role of civic organizations.


Sen. Teofisto D. Guingona III, co-chairman of the Joint Congressional Power Commission (JCPC), has been invited to give the keynote address to set the tone for the congress.


Presentations on Good Governance kicks off the working sessions on the second day with topics such as “Sitio Energization” by National Electrification Administration (NEA) Administrator Edita S. Bueno, “Transparency of Distribution” by Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) Chairman Zenaida G. Ducut, and “Politics in Electric Cooperatives” by JCPC Member Rep. Lorenzo R. Tañada III.


Following a brief reaction from a three-member panel of LGU and EC officials, public discussions on knowledge products follow with “Research and Study Grants for the Mindanao Power Sector” by USAID-Cenergy; “The Upcoming 84 days a year Brownout” by Prof. Rowaldo del Mundo of the UP-National Engineering Center; and “A Model Outfit for Mindanao Power Sector” by Dr. Ricardo E. Rotoras, president of the Mindanao University of Science and Technology and PASSUC.


More discussions will follow on “Climate Change and Power” by Fr. Jose Ramon T. Villain, S.J., president of Ateneo de Manila University and a certified climatologist; and a reaction from another three-member panel composed of Dr. Dionel Albina, Dr. Roberto Padua and Dr. Hilly Ann R. Quiaoit.


The congress will be concluded with public discussions on Finance and Investment including “Resources of Renewable Energy (Dr. Ambrosio Cultura); Aggregation—A Business Model for Mindanao Electric Cooperatives (Edgardo R. Masongsong); Development of Renewable Energy Power Plants by the Electric Cooperatives (David A. Tauli) and Power Saving Innovations (Department of Energy); and the Role of Civil Society that will be led by Archbishop Antonio Ledesma, Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro; and Herbie Gomez of Mindanao Gold Star Daily.


A manifesto would be signed by the participants at closing of the congress.


Other speakers are also expected to attend the congress, including Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr.; Lualhati Antonino, chairman of the Mindanao Development Authority; and Arnulfo Go, chairman of the House Committee on Mindanao Affairs.