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President
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo threshed out the sufficiency of electricity supply in
Bohol and neighboring provinces with her Cabinet yesterday at the Panglao Island
Nature Resort.
Almost
all members of the President's Cabinet including Vice Pres. Noli de Castro, Gov.
Erico Aumentado, Representatives Edgar Chatto, Roberto Cajes and Adam Jala tackled
the meeting's single agenda which is the current energy requirement in the Visayas.
Heads
of Chambers of Commerce in the Visayas were also invited into the full Cabinet
session.
In
the middle of the meeting, President Arroyo announced that she has requested the
National Power Corporation (Napocor), the National Transmission Corporation (TransCo)
and distribution utilities in the region to lower some more the existing power
rates.
Even
with the high cost of transmitting power to the island-provinces from Leyte through
submarine cables, the electric rates are still lower compared to Luzon and in
Metro Manila, President Arroyo said.
| | | The
President said consumption in the next three years is expected to significantly
increase.
Arroyo
attributed this to the growth spurred by the tourism industry in the region.
Reviewing
the power supply situation in the province, the President was appraised by Energy
Sec. Angelo Reyes on the electricity requirements of about 6-percent when the
Panglao Bohol International Airport will be operational in 2010. |
Presently
however, there is a supply surplus in the province, according to the report of
Sec. Reyes.
The
President asked for updates on current power generation projects in the region
and how it will meet the need for more energy reserves.
She
demanded from Sec. Reyes, Transco and Napocor executives to ensure that there
is enough buffer supply in Bohol and other Visayan provinces.
OPEN
ACCESS TO POWER
President
Arroyo made another important announcement during the Cabinet meeting that is
expected to be met positively by the big power consumers.
The
President announced the implementation of the open access power supply system
to provide quick relief to power consumers burdened by the high cost of electricity.
The
President said that all industry players in the energy sector have agreed to the
open access system which will be fully implemented in the Visayas and Luzon.
Even
Meralco which has substantial long-term commitments from independent power producers
(IPP), President Arroyo noted, agreed to the implementation of the program which
is mandated under the the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA).
In
an open access regime, large power consumers with a minimum consumption of 1 megawatt
per month can choose their power suppliers, unlike under the present system which
restricts their choice to those operating in their respective areas.
President
Arroyo added that lower electricity cost is an attractive come-on for new investors
to do business in the Philippines, and for investors already existing in the country
to expand their operations. | 
