‘Occidental Mindoro power crisis resolved’

MANILA, Philippines — The power crisis in Occidental Mindoro has been deemed resolved after the Occidental Mindoro Consolidated Power Corp. (OMCPC) agreed to operate its three power plants, Malacañang has announced.

National Electrification Administration (NEA) head Antonio Mariano Almeda said the three power plants were switched on yesterday.

The power plants have a capacity of 30 megawatts (MW), which covers Occidental Mindoro’s peak demand.

There were no reports of blackouts in the province yesterday, NEA said.

Almeda met with OMCPC owner Luis Manuel Banzon on Thursday, during which an agreement was reached to run the three power stations, a statement released by the Presidential Communications Office on Friday said.

Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla approved the arrangement, according to NEA.

With OMCPC’s power plants running at full capacity, about 30 to 32 MW can be supplied to Occidental Mindoro Electric Cooperative Inc.

Almeda said this would result in shorter or no more power interruptions in the province.

The earlier announced lease and operate agreement with Power Systems Inc. to operate its diesel power plant, which has a capacity of 5 MW, would continue in a reserve capacity.

The intended emergency power supply agreement with DMCI Power Corp., on the other hand, will not push through.

”The modular generators being transported to the province originally intended to service public schools and hospitals will be kept here in case the same should be needed,” Almeda said.

NEA was tasked as lead agency to resolve the power crisis in Occidental Mindoro.

The province had earlier been placed under a state of calamity due to 20-hour daily power outages for more than a month now.

Gov. Eduardo Gadiano had expressed concern that businesses, including popular fastfood chains, are closing down because the province had power supply for only four hours.

The power crisis had also affected the delivery of basic services such as public hospitals.