BAGUIO CITY, Philippines – The Department of Energy yesterday assured power consumers in Luzon of stable power supply, as it pegged the region’s power reserve at more than 900 megawatts (MW).
Efren Balaoing, DOE-Luzon field office director, said occasional rains in the Baguio-Benguet area and the upcoming rainy season would rejuvenate the Cordillera watersheds.
Balaoing gave the assurance during the sidelights of the DOE-led forum on the multi-sectoral advocacy campaign on downstream oil industry here.
He said the Cordilleras serves as the watershed cradle of northern Luzon. It brings water to the lowlands and boosts the power-generating capacity of the Ambuklao and Binga Dams, both in Benguet.
“Ambuklao generates 105 MW while Binga produces 125 MW,†he said.
The DOE official remains optimistic with the rich potential of the Cordilleras to produce geothermal and hydroelectric power.
He said there are six pending applications for the construction of geothermal plants in the region, that if approved would generate 230 MW.
There are around 22 applications for hydropower plants that can bring in more than 700 MW of power supply.
“If these power generation development contracts push through, (they) would boost the energy supply here in the Cordilleras and the rest of Luzon,†Balaoing said.