CHEAPER POWER. Rep. Edgar Chatto leads the signing of the memorandum of agreement on reducing by 50 percent the power rates in the islets of the province. Signing the MOA are Lorenzo Marcelo of the National Power Corporation, Boheco I board president Jeremias Boligao, Boheco general manager Carlos Itable and Provl Administrator Tommy Abapo Jr., representing Gov. Erico Aumentado. Foto DANNY REYES

Electricity rates in Bohol island barangays will reduce by about 50% or more effective February 26 following the launching of the government's power cost reduction program in Cambaquiz, Cabilao island on Thursday.

In the future, the program will hopefully power these isolated areas 24 hours a day from its present night load time of only 6 hours until midnight.

NPC Vice President for Small Power Utilities Group (SPUG) Lorenzo Marcelo, Bohol Electric Cooperative I (Boheco I) Board President Jeremias Boligao and General Manager Carlos Itable, First District Rep. Edgar Chatto and Gov. Erico Aumentado, represented by Provincial Administrator Tomas Abapo, Jr., signed the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on the mercy energization.

The SPUG, NPC's unit for missionary electrification, will take over the island generation sets of Boheco I, which first brought electricity to the islands in1999.

Marcelo announced that NPC's present power generation charge of P12.63 per kilowatthour to Boheco I in the islands will reduce to P5.64 effective February 26, the start of the next billing month.

Mayors and captains in concerned towns and barangays regard the unprecedented development as a gift to the Boholanos from Chatto, who coincidentally marked his birthday in the launching of the cheap power program.

Chatto came to Cabilao island with wife Pureza and only child Trisha.

The congressman had persistently lobbied with the NPC, Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) and even Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo as early as 2002 to realize the wish of the islanders.

Mayors Lloyd Peter of Loon, Atty. Luna Piezas of Tubigon, Dr. Sulpicio Yu Jr. of Calape, Atty. Alvin Uy of Baclayon, Benedicto Alcala of Panglao and the barangay captains of island barangays witnessed the launching.

Lopez asked the islanders to conserve electricity despite its cheap new rate.

Provincial Board Member Cesar Tomas Lopez, former mayor of Loon, Vice Mayors' League of the Philippines (VMLP) - Bohol president Vice Mayor Jose Antonio Veloso of Tagbilaran City and Corella Mayor Vito Rapal were also there.

Provincial Board Member Alfonso Damalerio II, who was in Mindanao, congratulated the islanders in a text message read by the emcee in the launching ceremony.

Inspite of its high charge because of the big cost of power generation as against the small consumption in the island barangays, Boheco I incurred a total loss of P1.5 million in its operation in the said areas in 2007 alone.

Boheco I has to sustain its island operation as a social responsibility.

The NPC, thru SPUG, will charge in the islands subsidized approved rate of generation (SARG).

The high cost and limited supply of electricity have stunted the economy in the islands, affecting the very livelihood and living condition of the islanders.

With the provision of sufficient yet cheap power, an upturn in the island economy is expected.

Cabilao island, for instance, has great tourism potentials but which have not been harnessed as desired because of the high rate of limited electricity.

The island is renowned for its world-class dive sites, a route of migratory birds and home to Bohol's first and only solar-powered internet café and computer laboratory.

About six years ago, Chatto raised to Boheco I the plea of the islanders to lower their power rates and lengthen the service time.

The electric cooperative board thus then passed a resolution manifesting its willingness to turn over its island generation sets to NPC thru SPUG.

Chatto patiently waited until NPC Pres. Cyrilk del Callar finally committed in the final congressional budget hearing to grant the congressman's long wish.

Del Callar could not come for the launching because of his official trip abroad.

Meanwhile, islanders also thanked Chatto for the simultaneous whole-day medical-dental missions in Cambaquiz and Talisay in Cabilao during the launching.

They considered the health care services another gift to them on his birthday.

The missions were co-sponsored by the Loon lGU and supported by the Philippine Amusementt and Gaming Corporation, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes and provincial government thru the Provincial Health Office.