| RDC taps rich resources to arrest effects of power woes; by Dexter A. See | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Tue 20 Apr 2010 06:19:54 (380 Views) | |
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Tue 20 Apr 2010 06:19:54 Post #1 |
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RDC taps rich resources to arrest effects of power woes by Dexter A. See TABUK CITY, Kalinga – The Regional Development Council (RDC) in the Cordillera wants local governments in the region to tap their rich water resources and establish local power corporations with the people as major stakeholders to become energy self-sufficient and help combat the effects of an impending power crisis nationwide in the coming years. The region’s policy-making body and the city government is now formalizing the creation of a local power corporation intended to identify, establish, and operate a mini-hydro power plant here to boost the utilization of the potential water resources from the Chico River, one of the major river systems flowing to the lowland communities of the Cagayan Valley. Initially, the RDC, the Tabuk City government, and 22 businessmen committed their support to the noble project and assured to contribute their respective resources to the starting capital of the proposed local power corporation. Based on the project’s concept, the local power corporation will be composed of the concerned local government units, residents of the host communities, local businessmen, and an external investor in accordance with the provisions of law. The project is part of the Minihydro Power Development Extension Program of the RDC which aims to harness the extensive hydro power potential of the Cordillera that falls under the Philippine Medium Term Energy Plan where the region was identified as one of the country’s major sources of renewable energy. Tabuk City has been chosen as the pilot area for the noble project since mayor Camilo Lammawin Jr. was the only local chief executive who openly expressed his interest with commitment when the plan was first presented to local chief executives in the region. Local businessmen supported the planned establishment of a local power corporation to be owned by the community since it will greatly help in reducing the skyrocketing cost of electricity in the rural communities. It will also ensure continuous supply of power even when big power plants close operations due to the low supply of water from the river systems. However, some businessmen raised concern on the reported longer waiting period of the return of investment for their capital since the corporation will only start earning once the hydro power plant is completed within the next five to seven years. Studies show that Kalinga has an estimated total hydro power potential of 400 to 600 megawatts which is way below its power consumption. Some of the potential hydro power sites include the Tanudan River in Dupag and a drop in the irrigation canal in Turod, Bulo. Proponents of the Dupag hydro power project have already obtained a free and prior informed consent from the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples and that favorable results have been yielded by a feasibility study conducted on the area. City officials believe the put up of a hydro power plant in the province will be able to attract more investors to take advantage of the future lower power rates to be charged to local consumers. Source: http://www.baguiomidlandcourier.com.ph/kalinga.asp?mode=archives/2010/april/4-11-2010/kal1.txt |
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