Gwen asks GMA to intervene into power crisis

CEBU, Philippines - Governor Gwendolyn Garcia is seeking presidential intervention into the ongoing power crisis that has affected not only the industry sector, but the general public as well.

Garcia has requested Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to temporarily subsidize the fuel requirements of the 50 megawatts gas turbine plant owned by Salcon Power Corporation in Naga City to augment the province’s current power situation.

“The immediate operation of the power plant will greatly help alleviate the power deficiency in the Visayas, particularly in Cebu,” Garcia said in her letter to the president.

The Governor specifically asked Arroyo to allow the Department of Energy through the Public Section Assets and Liabilities Management Corporation and the National Power Corporation to subsidize the fuel requirements of the gas turbine until the power situation improves.

Garcia suggested in her letter that the subsidy be made to last until June.

The letter was brought to Malacañang by Paul Hubahib of the Office of the Press Secretary in Cebu last Friday.

“There has been a strong clamor from the BPOs, the different chambers of commerce and industry and the general public for relief from the daily rotational brown-outs being experienced since January 30, 2010,” Garcia said.

The ongoing rotation brown-outs are being caused by the shutting down of several power plants that supply the Visayas Cebu-Negros Panay grid. The power plants were shut down for maintenance.

The Cebu Thermal Power Plant 1, which supplies 50 megawatts was shut down last January 23. It is expected to resume operation on February 23. The Mahanagdong Power Plant in Tongonan, Leyte, which provides 120 MW to Cebu, was also shut down for its preventive maintenance last January 30.

Salcon Power operated its land-based gas turbine in Toledo City to reinforce the power supply in Cebu but it was still not enough. It could not operate the other 50-megawatt gas turbine in Naga City owing to inadequate fuel.

The Salcon Power Corporation allegedly did not have funds to purchase the fuel since the power firm had just acquired the plant from Napocor.

The preventive maintenance of old power plants triggered a drop in the power supply affecting the Visayas grid. — Fred P. Languido/JMO   (FREEMAN NEWS)