Bantayan Island gets more power supply

CEBU, Philippines —  The 23.3-megawatt (MW) diesel engine power plant on Bantayan Island, an emerging tourist destination in northern Cebu, was inaugurated yesterday.

The Isla Norte Energy Corporation (INEC), a joint venture of Vivant Integrated Diesel Corporation (VIDC) and  Gigawatt Power Inc. (GPI), inaugurated its power plant in Barangay Kabangbang, Bantayan town.

The INEC has a 15-year supply contract with Bantayan Electric Cooperative Inc. (BANELCO) supplying power to the three towns on Bantayan island.

INEC is currently operating under a Provisional Authority to Operate issued by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) for 90 days since October while the latter is in the process of approving the Power Supply Agreement (PSA) with the former.

INEC said their power plant has “guaranteed dependable capacity of 15MW,  which is sufficient to address the peak demand of Bantayan island with reserve and N-1 contingency of 7.27 MW.”

INEC president and CEO Emil Andre Garcia said their power plant is made with European machines, describing it as a “world class power plant”.

“Having these will provide the power that Bantayan Island needs today. Banelco (has) ensured that there will be sufficient power around,” Garcia said.

Mayor Arthur Despi of Bantayan expressed gratitude to the private company that has helped them address the power shortage in the island

“The power situation becomes the strength and opportunity for economic growth and social development as well.  Adequate,  available and affordable energy improves the quality of life,” Despi said.

In a separate development, the Cebu provincial government has poured P104 million worth of infrastructure projects into Bantayan Island in the north.

Governor Gwendolyn Garcia led the groundbreaking and inauguration of 8.8-kilometer road projects in three towns of Santa Fe, Bantayan and Madridejos on Bantayan island yesterday.

The road projects include the concreting and improvement of Obo-ob -Maricaban road section which stretches 2.7 kilometer; 200 meter Bag-ong Dalan road section in Barangay Talangnan in Madridejos and the 3.5 Kabangbang-Kangkaibe Bagong dalan road section in Bantayan town.

These projects are worth P73.8 million.

The P30.2 million Pooc-Maricaban Tourist road section was also inaugurated yesterday in Sta Fe.

These are parts of the continued infrastructure projects of Cebu Province under Garcia’s administration

Provincial Engineer Hector Jamora said there are around 32 kilometers of provincial road left in the province that are yet to be paved. But they are on the process of improving these roads.

Sta. Fe Mayor Ithamar Espinosa said the recent road improvement is another dream project for the Santafehons.

Also present during yesterday’s events were Fourth District Congresswoman Janice Salimbangon and Board Members Horacio Franco and Kerrie Shimura.

They also attended the inauguration of the power plant in Bantayan town. — KQD (FREEMAN)