By Danessa Rivera (The
Philippine Star) | Updated February 15, 2017 - 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines - State-run National
Power Corp. (Napocor) and the local government units of Palawan have agreed to
power up eight new Small Power Utilities Group (SPUG) power plants to provide
electricity service to around 6,000 households and further spur tourism in the
province.
Under the memorandum of agreement
(MOA), Napocor will provide generating sets, fuel and manpower for the new SPUG
plants while the local government will provide for the power houses and plant
site.
The eight new SPUGs are
located in Barangay Tara, Coron; Paly, Beton, Casian in Taytay; Concepcion,
Agutaya; Nangalao, Linapacan; and Bancalaan 1 and 2 in Balabac.
Napocor president Ma. Gladys
Cruz-Sta. Rita said the SPUGs will help boost tourism and local livelihood in
the areas.
“Palawan being hailed as the best
island in the world by various international magazines, we are certain that
tourists will continue to flock to the province in the coming years and power
supply in these areas will help locals start or improve their businesses to
cater to domestic and international tourists,” she said.
The state-run firm also said the
power supply it provides in the farthest islands and communities also ensure
the implementation of the national government’s development programs in health,
infrastructure and education.
The signing of the MOA was included
in the corporation’s consultation and workshop on planning and forecasting for
missionary electrification in Palawan which aims to engage all its stakeholders
in the province in dynamic discussions on improving the power supply in the
province.
“The MOA is the realization of the
commitment we made during the formulation of a village electrification
convergence action plan for the province held in 2016,” Sta. Rita said.
The convergence action plan was an
avenue for the stakeholders like the Department of Energy, Napocor, Palawan
Electric Cooperative, National Electrification Administration, Busuanga Island
Electric Cooperative and the provincial government of Palawan to talk and agree
on the roles of each in enhancing the power supply of the province.
Meanwhile, Napocor’s Power
Engineering Services is already in the pre-construction stage in connecting the
municipalities of Taytay and El Nido to the Palawan backbone transmission.
This is after the corporation has
successfully switched on the Puerto Princesa to Roxas transmission line project
in 2016.
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