Alcantaras commit to Mindanao power

Businessmen are unhappy at the prospect of rotating blackouts that could last for 10 hours or longer especially with the onset of summer, with many complaining about huge losses due to the continuing power interruptions in the region. Last Feb. 27, the whole island of Mindanao was plunged into total darkness much to the consternation and embarrassment of Energy Secretary Jericho Petilla who could not immediately pinpoint the cause of the outage except to say that the system in Mindanao is “antiquated.”

Over the years, population growth has spurred greater demand for energy but unfortunately, it’s been difficult to attract investors’ interest in developing new infrastructure that could mitigate the situation. As Secretary Petilla himself noted, it takes as much as four years to build a new power plant, not to mention the billions needed for the investment. Malacanang has issued an appeal for Mindanao residents to exercise patience, stressing that government is doing everything to look for long-term solutions to address the supply shortfall and avert a power crisis that could cripple growth.

There’s a bright spark, however, with several coal-fired power plants set to become operational in the next couple of years, thanks in large part to companies like the Aboitiz  and the Alcantara Group that are investing billions to help address the power supply deficit. Tommy Alcantara recently visited the manufacturing facilities of Fuji Electric in Kawasaki, Japan where a state-of-the-art turbine is being built for the Alsons Power Group’s 210-MW power plant in Sarangani province.

Tommy happens to be the chairman of the Alsons Power Group whose Sarangani Energy Corp. has just achieved a milestone with the completed foundation work for the boiler and steam engine turbine generator building of the 210-MW coal-fired power plant currently being constructed in Maasim, Sarangani.  Alsons is on track to start operating the first 105-MW section by September next year with the other 105-MW expected to be functional by 2016.  The Sarangani plant is part of a long-term solution that will help power up Mindanao and keep the province from being plunged into the age of darkness once again.

The Alcantaras have long been committed to the development of Mindanao through community development programs spearheaded by the Alcantara Foundation and company subsidiaries. As a matter of fact, the Alcantara Foundation, Alsons Power subsidiary Mapalad Power Corporation plus other private groups and NGOs recently inked education and environment programs with the city government of Iligan. Called i4C or Iligan for Children, the education component will help improve the quality of education in schools, while the environmental component will involve the production of artificial reef domes in coastal communities and the planting of some 50,000 mangroves in select areas to help protect and preserve the marine ecosystem.

Doris’ Asia Society gung-ho with Charlie’s ‘ULI’

Last Tuesday, Asia Society chair Doris Magsaysay-Ho and my former classmate, Urban Land Institute chief Charlie Rufino, gathered global experts from across the world for the 2nd Annual Pacific Sustainability Initiative forum held at the Manila Pen’s Rigodon Ballroom. Discussion centered on best practices and new approaches for creating livable and sustainable cities that can weather the onslaught of climate change, which is very timely considering the massive devastation wrought by Typhoon Yolanda that has underscored the need for climate change preparedness especially with the Philippines listed among the top 10 disaster-prone nations.

Doris and Charlie noted the key role of the forum given the recent disasters that hit the Philippines that include the 7.2 magnitude earthquake in Bohol and the floods and landslides due to typhoons, all of which present daunting challenges as far as rehabilitation is concerned. One of the speakers during the forum was Bob Parker, the former mayor of Christchurch in New Zealand which was struck by a series of disastrous earthquakes in 2011.

Parker, who has been dubbed a “wartime mayor,” noted that rebuilding and recovery can indeed be very complicated especially with raging debates on whether the 19th century character of Christchurch should be retained or whether an entirely new one should be developed. What is clear, however, is that everything should be able to withstand disasters.

Indonesian senior minister Kuntoro Mangkusubroto who spearheaded the dramatic rehabilitation of Aceh in the aftermath of the deadly 2004 tsunami that killed hundreds of thousands of people averred that anyone who is tasked to head recovery efforts should have the corresponding power to effect comprehensive rehabilitation for the devastated areas. Obviously, the rehabilitation must be well funded and would require massive political support, with the magnitude similar to what was employed for the Marshall Plan, as pointed out by architect Jun Palafox.

The Marshall Plan – also known as the European Recovery Program – was named after US State Secretary George Marshall who oversaw efforts to help Europe get back on its feet after the carnage and destruction of World War II, with major infrastructure and transportation facilities heavily damaged. It was like starting all over again – something that can accurately describe the sentiment of the people whose lives were turned upside down by Typhoon Yolanda, the Bohol earthquake and other places that were submerged by floods due to typhoons. 

There’s no question that “rehabilitation czar” Ping Lacson has the political will to face up to the challenges of massive rehabilitation – but he needs to be given the power other than oversight functions to effectively implement rehab programs in an organized and efficient manner given the numerous agencies that are involved in the process. 

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