DOE urged: Get more power barges for Mindanao

DAVAO CITY, Philippines  â€“ The Department of Energy should immediately contract more power barges to address the worsening power shortage in Mindanao, according to Aurora Rep. Juan Edgardo Angara.

“The DOE is now governed by a culture of integrity. So even the use of negotiated contracts just to acquire power barges is an option to fast-track the solution to the power problem,” said Angara, an administration senatorial bet.

He said these negotiations to acquire power barges can be monitored by civil society and good governance groups.

Angara cited reports that the government has earmarked P3.8 billion to boost the country’s power capabilities.

The budget includes the rehabilitation of existing hydroelectric power plants in the South.

The government is also looking at the possibility of using a 300-MW interruptible power load plan to solve the island’s power problems, Angara said.

The onset of summer has seen the water levels in Lake Lanao in Marawi City and Pulangi River in Bukidnon to go down, causing massive power curtailment resulting in power outages of up to 10 hours in various areas in Mindanao.

The island is largely dependent on hydroelectric power sourced mainly from Lake Lanao and Pulangi River.

The power supply in Mindanao also worsened as one of the two power barges of AboitizPower Corp. moored in Maco, Compostela Valley is under repair after it conked out last week.