DOE draws up Mindanao energy plan

DAVAO CITY , Philippines   â€“ The Department of Energy has drawn up a long-term energy plan that would ensure a sustainable power supply that would support the expected energy requirements for the growth and progress of Mindanao in the coming years.

Jesus Tamang, chief of the DOE Energy Policy and Planning Bureau, said the energy plan being crafted for the south strategically supports the Mindanao 20/20 Peace and Development Framework Plan.

“The Mindanao Energy Plan (MEP) sets specific strategies in support of the energy requirements of the Mindanao 2020, especially under its Mindanao Corridors Development,” Tamang said.

The proposed energy plan would address the long-lingering power crisis problem that is affecting Mindanao.

The power supply problem stems from the lack of water sources that fuel the hydroelectric power system that Mindanao largely depends on.

The DOE is working in close collaboration with the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) to achieve better synergy of efforts, noting that, “the Mindanao 2020 strategies are consistent with what we have developed in the energy plan.”

The Energy department also recommends that Mindanao 2020 integrate an intermodal mass transport system, adding or improving existing airports to increase mobility in the island and cater to the influx of visitors, all of which would require energy.

A spatial development framework pushed by MinDA, the Mindanao Development Corridors is designed to strengthen Mindanao’s competitiveness by increasing the efficiency of industries and its value chain to create more jobs and foster inclusive economic growth.

The framework builds on existing regional and local plans but strengthens these with the complementation with other corridors in the island region.

“We need to be ready for structural change. With the increase in power demand in Mindanao, we need to consider all possible sources of energy, preferably indigenous,” said Tamang, citing Mindanao’s high capacity for alternative fuels.

The DOE is seeking the support of the local leaders to achieve energy sufficiency by identifying renewable energy sources within their respective areas, as oil and other forms of energy are needed to provide for the still growing requirements of transport and mobility in the region.

“We welcome the opportunity to collaborate with DOE on this very important undertaking for Mindanao,” said Romeo Montenegro, director of the MinDA Investment Promotion and Public Affairs Office.

He added that part of the goals of the regional consultation is to seek stakeholder support on the identified immediate measures to the current power supply shortfall that caused intermittent brownouts in parts of Mindanao.

Montenegro also stressed that MinDA supports the development of renewable energy (RE) sources, consistent with the Mindanao 2020 strategy on diversification of energy mix, with premium of RE technology.

“We are pushing for more investments in renewable energy projects, particularly hydro, biomass and solar to keep our ideal 50-50 energy mix of RE and fossil-fuel power source by 2030,” he added.

The DOE spearheads the MEP public consultation in collaboration with MinDA, which co-chairs the Mindanao Power Coordination Committee (MPMC).