ITS TWO days into the New Year and this is my first column. We’re still in the midst of a pandemic. So far we have contained the virus and all its mutation, thanks largely to the efforts of a trash talking “dictator”.
So if you’re fully vaccinated and boosted hanging out in your favorite coffee shop after window shopping at the mall, whether you admit it or not it’s because of President Rodrigo Duterte’s efforts and not the photo-ops of Leni Robredo.
Meanwhile, the natives of “I Am Iloilo City” are almost or 100% vaccinated and they’re now doing boosters and vaccinating the minors, which mean that COVID-19 has been contained in Iloilo City.
So whether you like him or not, emotional sometimes volatile leadership included, Mayor Jerry Treñas got us through the pandemic and kept the virus at the gates, and we are grateful.
And we segue to the latest on goings and more at the power provider sector, including pronouncements from the President that will greatly affect the power sector.
Let’s start with this excerpt from the Dec. 21, 2021 issue of Panay News:
Reliable electricity for all: MORE Power inaugurates Ticud rehabilitation works
MORE Power inaugurated the Brgy. Ticud Rehabilitation Works last Dec. 10, 2021. In line with Executive Order No. 156 issued by President Rodrigo Duterte, ordering the Department of Energy to boost its efforts to provide “consistent and reliable electricity service” to achieve total electrification in the Philippines, MORE Power launched the Barangay Ticud Rehabilitation to provide the community with electricity services.
This 2.1 million rehabilitation program will allow the residents of Barangay Ticud, to finally have a stable supply of electricity after years of clamor for better service in the area. After MORE Power found that the community had limited access to electricity, the company resolved to conduct a total overhaul of the power lines, which includes the installation of twenty-three (23) concrete primary poles and 11 secondary poles in the area. MORE Power also installed three 50 kVa distribution transformers.
MORE Power worked with the La Filipina Uygongco Group of Companies for the erection of posts to the nearest power source. The company was able to tap from the La Filipina Uygonco’s primary lines, which traverses from their property in Brgy. Ingore, Lapaz to Brgy. Ticud, Lapaz. The rehabilitation project by MORE Power will benefit and energize more than 625 households in Barangay Ticud.
Well, that was quick considering that President Duterte signed Executive Order 156 last Dec. 9, 2021 and just the day after MORE Power was already putting into effect the words of the President; provide consistent and reliable electricity service to achieve total electrification in the Philippines.
But wait there’s more (this time pun intended):
MORE Electric and Power Corp. (MORE Power) has been chosen by United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to take part in its Energy Secure Philippines (ESP) Activity in partnership with the Department of Energy (DoE), Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), and other national and local government partners.
USAID, primary implementing partner Research Triangle Institute or RTI International, will be working closely with MORE Power “to assess its utility operations and review its short-term and medium-term plans on utility improvement and reliability”.
RTI International will support MORE Power by providing technical know-how and introducing new technologies available in the market that will enable it to further improve its operations
Along that line, ESP will mobilize at least US$750 million worth of private sector investments leading to an additional new generation capacity of at least 500 megawatts. And it aims to provide a total of US$7.5 million grants to encourage private sector participation and collaboration with local non-government entities.
And finally, excerpts from the Dec. 22, 2021 issue of Manila Bulletin:
ACEN sells power barge to Razon firm
Ayala-led ACEN Corporation has sold its Power Barge 101 facility in Iloilo to MORE Power, a power generation firm of businessman Enrique Razon.
The Ayala energy firm disclosed at the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) on Wednesday, Dec. 22, that it signed an asset purchase agreement with MORE Power Barge for the sale of its 32-megawatt Power Barge 101 facility which is sited in Barangay Obrero in Iloilo City.
For the Razon group, its acquisition of the Power Barge 101 generating facility will be highly beneficial because that can be integrated into its power distribution business in Iloilo via its corporate vehicle MORE Electric and Power Corp.
This acquisition of the power barge is another major investment aside from putting up new sub-stations and the complete overhaul of the power distribution system shows how serious Nong Moroy is as the power distribution utility of “I Am Iloilo City”.
I don’t seem to recall any major investment of erstwhile power provider Don Pecoy during its watch as the Iloilo City’s power provider except perhaps for that BMW luxury car now “gone in 60 seconds”. (brotherlouie16@gmail.com)/PN
