By GLENDA SOLOGASTOA
CONCEPCION, Iloilo — The impending presence of the 135-megawatt (MW) coal-fired power plant of Palm Concepcion Power Corp. (PCPC) here augurs well for the province.
Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr. said it will ensure stable power supply in the years to come, as well as speedy economic growth and development.
“I’m confident that the dream of the province to see sufficient power will happen with the construction of PCPC,” he intoned.
Defensor recalled the days when the province suffered from stagnant growth because of lack of power supply, which is crucial to the growth and development of a locality and of the whole nation.
A dedication and time capsule-laying ceremony was held at PCPC’s 37-hectare facility in Brgy. Nipa here yesterday.
To Ilonggo Senate President Franklin Drilon, the entry of PCPC and other coal-fired power plants mirrors the confidence of investors in the city and province of Iloilo.
PCPC is the second coal-fired power plant in Western Visayas, coming after the 164-MW coal-fired power plant already operating in Iloilo City.
BRIGHT PROSPECTS
PCPC’s 135 MW and another company’s 150 MW, with a total investment of P29 billion, will be added to the Visayas grid.
Drilon announced that the gross regional domestic product, or GRDP, of Western Visayas posted tremendous growth, from 4.5 percent in 2010 to 6.2 percent in 2011 and, finally, to 7.5 percent in 2012.
The Senate president said the growth potential of the region would be brighter with more investors in power supply industry rushing in.
“We could not sustain this expansion in our economy in the region without adequate power supply,” he stressed.
Yesterday’s dedication and time capsule-laying ceremony was led by PCPC’s key officials: president and chief executive officer Roel Z. Castro, Jacinto C. Ng Jr. and Dr. Walter W. Brown.
Department of Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho Petilla graced the ceremony as keynote speaker.
Also present were Governor Defensor, Vice Gov. Raul Tupas, 2nd District Rep. Arcadio Gorriceta, 5th District Rep. Niel Tupas Jr., Aklan Gov. Florencio Miraflores and Concepcion Mayor Milliard Villanueva, among others.
Yesterday’s activity was dubbed “Celebration of the Visayan Heritage through the Edge of Time: A Dedication and Time Capsule Placement Ceremony.”/PN
