24-hour power supply in Pilar Island sought

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu Provincial Board is asking the National Power Corporation to make electricity in Pilar, Camotes available 24 hours.

The board addressed the request to NPC President Ma. Gladys Cruz – Sta. Rita through a resolution sponsored by Board Member Jude Thaddeus Durano-Sybico. At present, NPC diesel-powered plant in the island town provides electricity only for 18 hours. 

Sybico said rehabilitation of the island following the devastation caused by super typhoon Yolanda on November 8, 2013 can be hastened if power is available round the clock.

“The urgent and needful rehabilitation and recovery of our municipality can be hastened and accelerated if a 24-hour power operation can be made available as soon as feasibly possible,” Sybico said.

The request, he said, has actually been sought by the local government unit even before the typhoon.

He said recovery is steady with the help of both the national and local governments, private sector, foreign and local civil society groups, well-meaning citizens, and the residents of the island themselves.

 In February, Sta. Rita and her team visited the Camotes Group of Islands and discussed with plant managers and local officials how NPC can help boost tourism in the island by increasing its power generation capacity.

 Camotes Group of Islands in Cebu is not connected to the main grid and is being serviced by NPC thru the Small Power Utilities Group.

The power plants in Camotes and Pilar, two of the 298 SPUG plants located across the country, are serving 16,352 households in four municipalities of the island thru Camotes Electric Cooperative.

 Sta. Rita herself urged SPUG Visayas to radiate the light of hope to NPC customers.

 â€œLet our light shine for all. Let our power inspire our people to hope for a better future — through the most significant services we give — powering the islands, managing the watersheds and dams of the country, and optimizing undisposed power assets of the country....let this power be felt and shared, especially among those made powerless by the tragedy of loss,” said Sta. Rita in a statement.  (FREEMAN)