DOE to draft energy plan for Visayas area

CEBU, Philippines - Ample supply of energy is a requisite to both social and economic development of a country as it is crucial to the production process in all sectors.

The Visayas region in particular now needs a more comprehensive planning ability to address the different energy issues and the rapid changing demand in the power industry, Department of Energy Regional Director Antonio Labios noted.

He said though that energy planning is definitely "not an easy process", but it is a good way to ensure efficient energy supply and demand in the community.

With the increasing economic activities in the country especially in Cebu, the director emphasized the need to establish a "good picture" that will identify future energy demand and resources.

On a larger perspective, he also noted that this will later on help the local economy of the province in attracting more investors to the energy sector.

"The economy of Cebu needs it, so we need to have a good planning sa atong energy. We can be sure we can be more self-sufficient sa energy and have more energy security," Labios said in an interview with The FREEMAN yesterday.

Stronger energy plan

The DOE is now on the planning stage for the creation of a stronger energy plan for the Visayas area.

A plan that, he said, will address the issue of energy security which is very crucial in sustaining the economic development.

"We actually considered this as a rural-based (energy) planning in order to involve the inputs of the municipalities and provinces in the region," he further said.

He said they have involved the different local government units to bring the long-term planning down to the local levels.

Involving LGUs and other sector players -- electric cooperatives, power companies and generators and legislators -- in the process will create local expertise in power planning.

The department said it will give a series of workshops to municipality officials to teach them on how they can incorporate the energy plan in their respective places.

Energy Secretary Jericho Petilla earlier urged LGU officials to "play an active role in the electrification process to ensure an energy secured nation in the future.

The DOE official claimed that they do not have the concrete plan yet but the agency is progressively taking steps leading to its completion.

"But hopefully, within the year we can have the initial plan na," he noted, adding that they are working with various stakeholders -- energy producers, investors, consumers, etc. -- to plan ahead for the region's energy needs in the future.

Labios also said the roles of the power sector players are critical in creating strong policies for the development of a more efficient energy system in the region.

The proposed plan will also become DOE's blueprint for the development and utilization of indigenous and local energy sources.

Labios further shared that the two-day Visayas Energy Forum, which he attended weeks ago, targeted the local barangays to be part in the long-term solution and also discussed the sector's preparations for natural calamities.

Organizations namely the United Nations Development Program, United States Agency for International Development, United Nations Environment Programme are supporting the plan drafting.

This year, three power plants with total capacity of 129 megawatts are expected to be available in the region. Moreover, the director also revealed that the Mindanao region will soon also have its own energy plan.

At present, 51 percent of the total 8,095 sitios in the Visayas have been provided with electricity through the Sitio Electrification Program; 75.4 percent of more than 4.6 million households have been electrified by the Household Electrification Program.