Department of Agriculture to build 40 mini hydro power plants

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Agriculture (DA) will put up 40 mini-hydroelectric power plants in all irrigation systems in the country to help ease the power crisis, particularly in Mindanao, which is now suffering from rotating blackouts.

According to Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala, over 100,000 houses are expected to benefit from the electricity that will be generated from the power plants by December this year.

The National Irrigation Authority (NIA), a DA agency, said the irrigation system could produce at least 20 megawatts of electricity daily.

“This is the contribution of the DA and NIA to ease the ongoing power crisis in the country,” NIA administrator Antonio Nangel said.

He said his office has identified at least 79 sites or irrigation systems nationwide, including 20 in Luzon, 10 in the Visayas, and 10 in Mindanao.

Nangel said each hydropower plant would only cost P20 million and would be shouldered by local investors.

“The good thing here, we will be able to help the energy crisis and at the same time the government will earn from it,” he said.

By May next year, the DA and NIA are targeting that all the 79 power plants in the irrigation canals will be able to supply electricity in the country.

Alcala said his department is not only serious in solving problems in agriculture, but is also willing to help in the power problem.

“Under President Aquino’s administration, all government agencies are one in helping solve the country’s problems,” he said.