14 firms join interruptible load agreement program

CEBU, Philippines - Fourteen more firms have joined the Interruptible Load Agreement Program of the Province and the Visayan Electric Company, which is seen to further lessen the burden of the insufficiency of energy supply for Cebu.

This brings to a total of 36 companies that have agreed to use their generators during times of power shortage and in effect allows VECO to give more supply for households and firms that do not have the capacity to produce their own energy.

A Memorandum of Agreement was signed yesterday between the 14 companies, VECO and Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, who highlighted the program since it has helped a lot in the region’s power problem.

Garcia pointed out that energy generators and power plants in Cebu is a big help and they are also looking at possible alternatives for energy sources since the “prospect of power shortage continues to loom over our heads.”

Ricardo Lacson, Vice President for Administration of VECO, said that they continue to encourage more companies to join in the program which has been identified by the Energy Regulation Commission as a model program for other distributors to follow.

Lacson said that the lack of energy supply would have been twice as bad if not for the ILAP.

Companies that recently signed the MOA in support also with the Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry were Wellmade Motors and Development Corporation, ProFood International Corp., Winner Plastic, Monde Nissin, Ginebra San Miguel, Mandaue Libertad, Matimco, Fooda Saver’s Mart, Hyundai Cebu Inc., Mastercraft, Cenapro, Alpa City Suites, Kimhi Realty Group and Parklane Hotel.

Garcia said that the sufficient supply of energy should be assured considering that Cebu continues to attract tourists and investors.

Aside from the MOA on the ILAP, it was an “all-in-one event” said Garcia who signed a MOA not only with the businessmen, but as well as with the National Bureau of Investigation and the Integrated Bar of the Philippines that states the legal assistance to be extended by the IBP to NBI and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency personnel that are charged with cases in line of duty.

Garcia also handed over two vehicles, one for PDEA and one for NBI, to use for their operations, as well as Government Security Insurance Policies for the personnel.

NBI was represented by Regional Director Medardo de Lemos and Regional Director Randy Pedroso came for PDEA.

Governor Garcia also handed out financial assistance of P30,000 each for 16 returning rebels. 

Garcia said that she credited the agencies since it has helped in the establishment of peace and order in Cebu and has made the “province as one of the most peaceful in the country.”

She pointed out that they are assuring the different offices the full support especially in the war against illegal drugs where they have had an agreement to deputize PNP, AFP and even barangay tanods, who have gone through series of seminars and are now deputized PDEA agents.

This, according to the governor, is replicating and multiplying the presence of PDEA down to the barangay which has in fact been proven a most effective strategy. – AJ de la Torre/NLQ   (FREEMAN NEWS)