Tiwi’s Naglabong Park restored

TIWI, Albay — US Ambassador Francis Ricciardone urged the country’s policy makers to continue dveloping the country’s geothermal energy during the turnover ceremonies of the newly restored Naglabong Park and a renovated rural health hospital to the local government the other day.

"Geothermal power helps make your country independent in terms of energy with its full grown supply," said Ricciardone, who was one of the guests during the affair.

"You don’t have to rely on the vagaries of world economics . . . it’s yours as long as you preserve and make it well," Ricciardone added.

Secretary of Energy Vicente Perez Jr., who unveiled the marker together with the US Ambassador, echoed the same observation, saying that the country’s track record in developing geothermal energy has made it possible for the country to export its expertise in developing geothermal energy in other countries, mainly to Africa, New Zealand and Costa Rica.

"Starting with just 2.5 megawatts at Barangay Cali in 1967, the Tiwi geothermal plant now ranks second as a supplier of geothermal energy to the Luzon grid," said Perez.

With the on-going rehabilitation of the Tiwi geothermal electricity plant, Plant I will be able to supply some 110 megawatts to the Luzon grid next week.

Naglagbong Park, which is located about two kilometers north-east of the Tiwi town proper, is a natural theme park and a museum. It has been a local tourist spot since 1913 when it was established as a provincial park by then Gov. General W. Cameron Forbes.

Covering some 44 hectares, it was converted into a national park in July 1954 by former President Ramon Magsaysay. As a result, it became part of the area which includes today’s geothermal fields.

To provide a new life for the Naglagbong Park, the National Power Corp. and Philippine Geothermal Inc. in cooperation with the local governments of Tiwi and Albay worked together to restore and even improve the old Naglagbong Park and turn it into a premier tourist attractions. Nag Park is located in Barangay Naga.

Nag Park today is now a modern theme park featuring a combination of geothermal features, plant life, marine development, simulated forest development surrounded by mature trees and ornamental and geothermal features like sinter mounds, bubbling ponds, large volcanic rocks, and a multiferous network of geothermal steam field pipes.

"Nag Park offers a fertile resource base for geo-ecological park development and serves as a jump-off point for a broad range of eco-educational-tourism activities like trekking, mountaineering, snorkeling and on-site learning through actual field exposure." Ed Sevilla, PGI commercial department head executive said.

Constructed as a multi-purpose center, Nag Parkalso has a Science and Information Center, a museum, information center and office facilities, giving its visitors an insight into the wonders of a geothermal environment as a venue for exhibits, presentations, lectures and discussions on geothermal energy.

"This project is a fitting tribute to the people of Tiwi as it coincides with the 30th year of geothermal development of this town," said PGI president Barry S. Andrews. Total project cost is P25 million.

Another big project turned over to the Tiwi municipal government was the newly-renovated and expanded health facility.

The PGI, through its mother company, Unocal, one of the world’s largest producers of geothermal energy, and in cooperation with the Tiwi Parish Social Action Commission and the Ayala Foundation USA, initiated the physical renovation and rehabilitation of the rural health unit.

With PGI’s financial assistance of $50,000 for the first phase of the project, the most important part of the rehabilitation was the upgrade of the RHU’s much needed medical and dental equipment.