GMA vows to make RP most ‘power competitive’ in the region

DAANBANTAYAN, Cebu — President Arroyo vowed yesterday to make the Philippines the most "power-competitive" country in the Asian region to attract more investments and provide jobs for the Filipinos.

In launching "Cebu’s Power Lifeline," Mrs. Arroyo stressed that even with its high power rates, the country can still be competitive in terms of being consumer friendly.

"At the end of the day, we hope to be a very competitive country in the region as far as power rates are concerned and being competitive. That means also very friendly to the consumers," she said.

Mrs. Arroyo made the declaration as she led officials here in viewing the laying of a submarine cable for the $68.5-million National Transmission Commission (Transco) Cebu-Leyte Power Interconnection Uprating project.

She said the Leyte-Cebu cable system geothermal power project will reassure investors who fear looming power supply shortages, particularly in the Mactan Export Processing Zones (EPZs).

Mrs. Arroyo said the project showcases the government’s effort to provide much-needed electricity for companies and projects in the south.

The project was launched after the government recently admitted that some 150 investors at the Mactan processing zones are planning to relocate to other countries, including Vietnam, Thailand and China, because of unstable power supply here.

"For those who are, right now, frustrated with the high price of power, I’d like to ask for your indulgence and more patience because these are the things that we are planning and working on," Mrs. Arroyo said.

She said the project was "long-awaited" since it took 10 years of debates and planning before it finally pushed through.

The protracted delays were partly caused by the opposition of Leyteños who feared that their power requirements would suffer if some of the province’s geothermal power were diverted to Cebu.

Mrs. Arroyo explained the 200 megawatts (mw) electricity capacity from Transco’s Leyte-Cebu interconnection project, the 200 mw from the Salcon-Kepco power plant in Naga, Cebu, and the 100 mw from the Mirant Power Plant in Toledo City, Cebu’s power supply will effectively be boosted by 500 mw.