Danessa Rivera (The Philippine Star)
- May 26, 2018 - 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — Manila
Electric Co. (Meralco) and Aboitiz Power Corp. are keen on investing in a new
distribution utility in partnership with the Bases Conversion and Development
Authority (BCDA) for New Clark City, touted as the next growth center in Luzon.
In a text message, Meralco senior
vice president Alfredo Panlilio said the power distributor is interested in partnering
with BCDA.
Participating in the bidding will be
through Meralco itself, he said.
To note, Meralco operates Clark
Electric Distribution Corp. (CEDC), the sole electric distribution company in
the Clark Special Economic Zone in Pampanga.
Meralco is the country’s largest
power distributor and its franchise area covers Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite,
and Rizal, as well as certain areas in Batangas, Laguna, Pampanga, and Quezon.
Meanwhile, AboitizPower president
and chief operating officer Antonio Moraza said the power firm would also take
a look at the potential partnership with BCDA.
“We will look at scope and see,” he
said.
AboitizPower is one of the largest
electricity distributors in the country with ownership interests in seven
distribution utilities including the second and third largest in the country.
Visayan Electric Co. Inc. (VECO),
jointly owned by AboitizPower and Vivant Corp., is the second largest
distribution utility in the Philippines, serving the electricity needs of the
cities of Cebu, Mandaue, Talisay, Naga and four municipalities of the greater
part of Metro Cebu.
AboitizPower also owns Davao Light
and Power Co., the third largest privately-owned electric utility in the
country which holds the franchise for distributing electric power to Davao
City, Panabo City and the municipalities of Carmen, Dujali, and Sto. Tomas in
Davao del Norte.
Earlier this month, the BCDA started
the tender process for the selection of joint venture partners to design,
build, finance, operate and maintain power and water distribution in New Clark
City.
A pre-eligibility conference was set
on May 29 at the BCDA office in Bonifacio Global City. BCDA targets to award
the contracts by September.
The 9,450-hectare New Clark City is
envisioned to be the country’s first smart, disaster-resilient, and sustainable
city.
The first phase of the development
covering 60 hectares will feature the National Government Administrative Center
that will house back-up offices of various government agencies and a
world-class sports complex being constructed in time for the 2019 Southeast
Asian Games.
The new metropolis will also have
mixed-use of residential, commercial, agro-industrial, educational
institutions, and other information technology developments.
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