RDC subcommittee supports submarine cable for Bantayan

CEBU, Philippines - The Regional Development Council (RDC) 7 Sub-Committee on Power is supporting the proposal of Cebu fourth district Rep. Benhur Salimbangon to connect the power supply of Bantayan Island from the mainland through a submarine cable.

Salimbangon brought to the RDC his concerns on the power situation in the different islands of the fourth district during its meeting last Friday.

Officials of the Department of Energy suggested Salimbangon to write the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) on his proposal.

But the RDC Sub-Committee on Power passed a resolution supporting the proposal of Salimbangon and for NGCP to conduct a study, upon the motion of DOE 7 Regional Director Antonio Labios.

Salimbangon shared that a study was conducted when he was general manager of Cebu Electric Cooperative (Cebeco) II which found out that the cost of submarine cable was prohibitive.

Looking at the load of Bantayan Island now, Salimbangon believes the submarine cable is viable and it can even be cheaper.

“No matter how costly it is, we have to do it,” he said.

Power in Bantayan Island is being supplied by Bantayan Island Power Corporation (Bipcor) with its five bunker/diesel-fired power plants with installed capacity of 8.34 megawatts and dependable capacity of 7.59 megawatts.

Salimbangon explained that the cost of putting a power plant is expensive, more so on solar power which costs $1.5 million dollars per one megawatt.

“We might as well put submarine cable,” Salimbangon said.

Aside from Bantayan Island, Salimbangon also raised concerns on power situations in small islands in his district which he said can be provided with generators.

He reported that Malapascua Island which is a tourist destination has yet to receive the subsidy from the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. (PSALM) as provided under the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA).

Other islets like Kinatarcan and Hilantagaan in Santa Fe; and Doong, Botigues and Lipayran in Bantayan need steady power supply while there is no power until in the islets of Carnaza in Daanbantayan and Hilutongan in Bantayan. People in Gibitngil Island in Medellin are relying mostly on solar power.

“Our goal is to reduce or if not remove the subsidy but not at this time when we are trying to develop these small islets,” Salimbangon said.

Salimbangon is hoping that the RDC can help his problem without him bringing it again to Congress.

“Let us work on this, hope we can solve this problem,” Salimbangon added. —(FREEMAN)