Sen. Zubiri optimistic Mindanao to overcome power shortage using renewable energy

By Jun Enriquez

 (Center photo) Sen. Migz Zubiri in blue shirt and Congressman Abdullah Dimaporo in white (barong tagalog) together with the provincial government employees.

Tubod, Lanao del Norte - Power supply in Mindanao is always a problem. This was the perception of Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri during his visit in Tubod, Lanao del as the invited Guest Speaker of the 57^th Araw ng Lanao del Norte celebration on July 4, 2016. It is an indication of a continuing development scaling up that makes power shortage in Mindanao in the next few years. Senator Zubiri, a native of Bukidnon acclaimed to be an environmentalist said that renewable energy will answer the needs of the energy in the country. He said they constructed solar power of 10.5 megawatts (MW) in Bukidnon and will generate power only until 4:00 Oclock in the afternoon. He said “we cannot afford to have brown outs in the next 12 hours during the rest of the evening”.  He said there must be a base load to fill the power gap, Hydropower plant also encountered problem on maintenance citing the Pulangui IV hydropower plant in Bukidnon did not operate in full capacity due to the siltation of soil in the lake coming from the mountains. The generation capacity in Pulangui IV plant reduced from 220 MW to 110 MW. He said the Pulangui lake had become less water and reduced into a river. The silted portion was cultivated into a farm. Zubiri said there is a need to rehabilitate the Agus-Pulangui hydropower plants to go back to its full capacity with two options, it might be privatized or the government may put in some money for the rehabilitation but majority of the people of Mindanao opposed privatization. He said whoever controls the Agus-Pulangui hydropower plant should make sure that the prices of the power shall be maintained otherwise the people in Mindanao will suffer. He projected that there is a need to have reserve energy for Mindanao in preparation for economic development. Zubiri said Luzon has reserve power of about 1,500 MW and Mindanao may need about 1000 MW reserve power in the next 10 years.

Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri

Zubiri said if there is enough reserve power in Mindanao businesses will be moving in. he said budget allocation for Mindanao will be prioritized and the Mindanao Railway system should be realized to sustain economic development. Mindanao in the past received 19-20 percent of the national budget in terms of infrastructure but he is confident that this will be reversed because Mindanao contributed high share of income in the national coffers in terms of Gross domestic product (GDP). The Government will develop the areas that has not been develop, pro-poor programs will be implemented to uplift the lives of the poor Mindanawans from poverty, prevent criminality and lawlessness with the armed group and this will make less people go to the mountains to fight against the government if more people will have better education. It is also an opportunity of other regions in the country experienced the same situation.

Zubiri said in order for our government sustain its development, it should implement the Freedom of Information Bill (FOI) for transparency in all of government transactions. Zubiri said he was the author of FOI Bill in the Senate and they ratified it during his stint, but was not successfully done in the lower house. He is hoping that President Duterte will make to issue executive order to quickly implement the FOI in the executive department to protect the interest of the people from corruption in the government that hinders development.

At right, Gov. Imelda "Angging" Dimaporo

The provincial government of Lanao del Norte headed by Governor Imelda Angging Dimaporo expressed her heartfelt thanks and appreciation to Senator Zubiri for gracing the occasion of the 57^th Araw ng Lanao del Norte celebrations. Dimaporo also extended her thanks to the people of Lanao del Norte represented by the Mayors from the 20 municipalities in joining the celebration.