NGCP to Bohol: Get other power sources

TAGBILARAN CITY, Philippines  — It's about time that Bohol should look for other sources of power energy, the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines gave this unsolicited advice.

"We would encourage Bohol to acquire its own (power generation) and invite investors," for this purpose, NGCP officials told the press conference last week.

Bohol province suffered more than a month of power rationing and blackout, following last year's Oct. 15 earthquake and the Nov. 8 typhoon Yolanda that adversely affected the Tongonan geothermal plant in Leyte.

Bohol has been and still is dependent to its power source in Tongonan, which supplies power requirements through an undersea cable from Leyte to the island-town of Pres. Carlos P. Garcia in this province.

NGCP recommended for Bohol to acquire power sources that are sustainable and renewable, such as solar or hydro though these may be expensive.

NGCP had also announced that a 10-hour power shutdown today (June 1) will be experienced by consumers in the entire Bohol province in preparation for works on the re-energization of the Bohol Backbone Transmission Project and maintenance.

It said the blackout is needed for maintenance works and technical routine in having a new line for Bohol at the Corella sub-station preparatory to Bohol's increasing power demand that may reach more than 60 megawatts.

Bohol is being served mainly by the Tongonan geothermal as well as hydro power plants in Balilihan, Loboc and Sevilla towns and the 16-MW Bohol Diesel Power Plant in this city.  (FREEMAN)