Capitol plans power charges from Malapascua residents

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu provincial government is aiming to collect charges from consumers of electricity in the island of Malapascua, in the town of Daanbantayan, northern Cebu.

With this, Governor Gwendolyn Garcia urged the Cebu II Electric Cooperative, Inc. (CEBECO II) to complete the requirements set by the Department of Energy, including the Micro-Grid System program (MGSP), for it commence the collection of charge from the consumers of the island.

DOE defines microgrid system as a group of interconnected loads and a generation facility or DPG with clearly electrical boundaries that acts as an integrated power generation and distribution system, whether or not connected to a distribution or transmission system.

National Electrification Administration (NEA) administrator Antonio Mariano Almeda said that, through the MGSP, a power provider like Cebu Province, would be allowed to charge rates on the consumers.

“Once DOE grants the MGSP, the Province will step back from shouldering the island’s electricity needs, putting an end to the interim arrangement forged in time of great crisis” according to Sugbo News, the Capitol’s news arm.

Almeda had a meeting with the governor, DOE Assistant Secretary Mario Marasigan and CEBECO II general manager Lowell Belciña on Jan. 31 where they discussed the details of the plan.

The Capitol already spent P50 million following its takeover on the power supply generation in Malapascua after the former power provider there, PowerSource Philippines Inc. (PSPI), fell short in supplying power to the island, which resulted to power outages for month that affected not just the day-to-day activities of the residents but also the business operations there.

Almeda said what happened in Malapascua is the result of the ineffiency of the qualified third party operator, and the island is lucky enough that the Capitol was able to promptly address the power crisis.

“Nakita ko sira-sira mga gen-sets. But with the new gen-sets acquired by the [Capitol] that would be a big assurance that Malapascua will be supplied with ample electricity,” Almeda said.

The power delimma in Malapascua prompted the the Capitol to provide four power generator sets to address the two-megawatt peak demand of power in the island.

CEBECO II, which is the exclusive franchise holder in the island, ended its contract to PSPI for the latter’s failure to provide stable power supply in the island.  — JG (FREEMAN)