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| Diesel Power Plant Barge in Balanacan, Marinduque |
BOAC, Marinduque – National Power Corporation (NAPOCOR) President Ma. Gladys Cruz -Sta. Rita graced the Marinduque Electric Cooperative’s (MARELCO) 35th Annual General Membership Assembly, Saturday, August 9 at the Boc Covered Court . About 4,000 consumer/members attended the said meeting. Sta. Rita detailed the NPC’s on-going and upcoming programs in the island province of Marinduque during this event.
Among the many projects of NPC are 1.) the acquisition of brand new medium speed generating sets that has the total capacity of 5 M. worth P200,000.00 2.), additional 500,000 liter-fuel oil storage tank tank to augment the company’s existing 300.000-liter fuel tank. and 3.) the improvement of 49 km Boac to Torrijos 69 kilovolts transmission system ensure system realiability.
Napocor will bid out next month the contract for the supply of brand new modular diesel generating sets for Marinduque and expects to complete delivery of the generators with a total capacity of 5 megawatts (MW) next year (2015).
In Boac 1,224-kilowatt’s Diesel Plant, there are three units that needs brand new spare parts that NAPOCOR will procure to extend the lives of these units. Sta. Rita said, “
The Power Barge 120 in Balanacn Port will undergo Dry-docking as part of its maintenance come Nov. 2014. Napocor at this time will lease 3.5 megawatt gen sets to guarantee continuous and sufficient power for the province.
A new mooring faciliity within Balancacan Port will also be constructed by Napocor as part of the expansion program of the Philippine Ports Authority.
There are 47,491 households in Marinduque through its Small Power Utilities Group (SPUG) plants in the province. Its total dependable capacity in the province stands at 9.4 MW while total demand at 8.1 MW.
Sta. Rita also announced that for the islets of Maniwaya, Mongpong and Polo all in Sta. Cruz town, where electricity is limited to 6 hours only, operation hours will be extended to 8 hours.
With all these projects, Sta. Rita reiterated the call of Gov. Carmencita O. Reyes in encouraging private investors to come to Marinduque. She further commended the present MARELCO administration headed by Gen. Manager Gaudencio M. Sol for doing a great job in convincing the consumers to pay on time which in turn allowed the cooperative to have completely paid its dues for 2013. Sta. Rita relayed, Gov. Reyes is very determined to give her constituents good power supply that she even went to my office in Manila.
However, NPC President stated, “let us encourage investors and use renewable energy, para mapababa ang presyo ng kuryente. Kaya nandidito ang NPC kasi wala pa po sila (investors) kaya pagdarating na po sila, aalis na po kami. Kaya lang po ,Hindi naman po pupwede, syempre po wala pa po sila, kaya po anjajan pa din ang NPC, nagsisilbi sa inyo.”
For the anxious consumers on the possibility of power cost increase or electric bill, Sta. Rita emphasized that NAPOCOR could not just impose an increase, it must be approved by the Energy Regulatory Board. “Ngayong taon na ito ay wala pong pagtatas hanggang 2015 na mararadaman ang mga consumers pero merong adjustments po tayong ipa-file at makikita ito ng cooperative but again sa mga consumers po ay walang pagtataas sa 2015.
Coop members have been very patient listening to all the good news from NAPOCOR and are anticipating actual results or actions soon. They waited until the end of the program hoping to get the grand prize that the cooperative prepared. The raffle draw offered a tricycle, a motorcycle and electric fans. Indeed, these prizes kept the crowd till late in the afternoon waiting for their luck
.Everybody from power consumers to officials of the province anticipate the implementation of these projects that will definitely boost the economy of the province and invites more tourists in the island as the new tourist destination. -Source and Courtesy: Philippine Information Agency-Marinduque (MNL/PIA-4B/Marinduque)
