DMCI Power eyes contracts in Marinduque, Occidental Mindoro

Remember the misfortune of Marinduque when it comes to certain power contracts?

So convenient just to forget, eh?

But maybe this time, we'll be lucky?

Maybe this time they'll stay, not run away?

When all the odds are in our favor, 

something's bound to begin

Maybe this time, maybe this time,

Maybe this time we'll win!

(with apologies to Liza Minelli)

DMCI Power Corp. continues to be on the lookout for more power contracts in several islands in the country to improve its sales volume, after it grew by a fourth to 308 gigawatt hours (GWh) in 2018.

The off-grid electricity supplier said it has recently won the contract for a three-megawatt (MW) facility in Siargao, while also looking to participate in the bidding process for projects in Marinduque, Occidental Mindoro, and Ticao Island in Masbate this year. 

DMCI Power President Nestor D. Dadivas said they won the Siargao project at P83 million per year, on top of variable costs. The company is now in the review process for the power supply agreement. 

“Siargao is connected to the grid, so it’s an easy contract that can grow because we have big plans in Mindanao, we might need some ancillary facilities,” Mr. Dadivas told reporters during a recent media briefing.

The build-operate-transfer contract will last for 15 years, after which the facility will be turned over to the government. DMCI Power expects the facility to start running within the next four to six months.

Meanwhile, Mr. Dadivas said the local governments of Marinduque and Occidental Mindoro might be sending out bids for private electricity providers within the year. The Marinduque contract is seen to have a capacity of 12 MW to 15 MW, while the Occidental Mindoro project will have a total capacity of 22 MW.

“Right now they (Occidental Mindoro) have temporary contracts for 20 MW, that will be bid out. Wala pang existing supplier. They will still have to come up with their terms, so it depends on the technology, size,” Mr. Dadivas explained.

Electricity in Ticao Island, which Mr. Dadivas described as a tourism-oriented island, is currently being supplied by the National Power Corp. DMCI Power said the state-run firm is now asking for interested private providers in the area. 

Source: Arra B. Francia/BusinessWorld

Velasco and Uybarreta 'Murang Kuryente' bill gains House panel approval

Earlier today (January 22, 2019), the House Energy panel approved the ‘Murang Kuryente’ bill, originally authored by Energy Committee Chairman Lord Allan Velasco, together with Energy Vice-Chair Caloy Uybarreta.

The average electricity price for residential customers in the Philippines is reportedly the second highest in Asia, and the highest in all of Southeast Asia.

Part of the burden being shared by Filipino electricity consumers is the Stranded Contract Costs and Stranded Debts of the National Power Corporation (NPC) through the Universal Charge component of their electricity bills.

The high cost of electricity has further weighed down Filipinos already reeling from high inflation and rising costs of living.

This bill seeks  to ease the said burden on Filipino consumers by allocating about Php123 billion from the net national government share of the Malampaya fund to pay NPC’s stranded contract costs and stranded debts transferred to and assumed by the PSALM, until 2023.

PSALM collects an amount from consumers to pay the stranded debts through a universal charge that is incorporated in their monthly electricity bill.

In 2017, the universal charge went up to P0.2  per kilowatt hour. This translates to P44.06 monthly payment for the universal charge for a household consumption of 200-kilowatt hour.

Energy Committee Chair and Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco said the Malampaya subsidy could help unburden consumers with an estimated “savings of 57 centavos per kilowatt hour” in electricity bills.

This should be a welcome relief to the average Filipino consuming public, and the pesos saved in electricity bills could always mean more money spent for other essential household expenses like rice or food.

Aprubado sa third reading ang Energy Virtual One-Stop-Shop (EVOSS)

Si Cong. Lord Allan Velasco bilang chairperson ng House Committee on Energy

 

Inaprubahan sa third reading sa Mababang Kapulungan ang Energy Virtual One-Stop-Shop (EVOSS Bill), o House Bill No. 8147.

Ang Pilipinas sa ilalim ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte ay naglalayong maging isang high middle income economy pagdating ng 2022.

Sa inaasahang pagtaas ng economic activities ay inaasahan din ang pagtaas ng pangangailangan sa enerhiya. Dahilan dito, higit na mahalaga na maakit ang mga power generation developers pati na rin ang pagpapabilis sa konstruksyon ng mga power plants sa bansa.

Napag-alaman na daan-daang pirma ang kinakailangan at dose-dosenang mga permits mula sa iba’t-ibang mga tanggapan ng pamahalaan para lamang ang mga energy resource investors ay makapagpagawa ng power plants, isang bagay na nakakapigil sa mga power generation companies na mag-invest sa Pilipinas.

Bilang chairperson ng House Committee on Energy at co-author ng bill, nasabi ni Velasco na “Gusto naming i-streamline ang napakahabang proseso ng pagbibigay ng mga permit, at bawasan ang gastos ng mga generation companies para makapagsimula silang mamuhunan sa bansa, at ito’y magpapababa rin sa generation charges bilang resulta ng bumabang cost of doing business.”

Inihayag ni Velasco ang kanyang pasasalamat at sinabing inaasahan din niya na ito’y magiging batas sa madaling panahon para mabiyayaan ang electric consumers sa buong bansa.

A wind power project in Ilocos Norte

On Nov 20, 2018, the House of Representatives approved on Third Reading House Bill No. 8147 or The Energy Virtual One-Stop-Shop Bill (or “EVOSS bill”).

The Philippines, under the administration of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, aims to become a high middle income economy by 2022. The expected increase in economic activity entails an increase in energy demand. As such, it is important to attract power generation developers, as well as fast-track the construction of power plants. However, it has been observed that it takes hundreds of signatures and dozens of permits from different government offices for energy resource investors who want to put up power plants, thus discouraging many power generation companies to invest in the Philippines.

Cong. Lord Allan Velasco, chairperson of the House Committee on Energy, as well as co-author of this bill, worked for its passage with the aim of addressing the situation “ We want to streamline the lengthy permitting process and reduce the cost of doing business for generation companies, which in turn would encourage competition by attracting more power generation companies to invest in the country, and would indirectly reduce generation charges as a result of reduced cost of business.”

Cong. Velasco expresses his sincere gratitude, and says he expects the said bill to be passed into law shortly for the benefit of Filipino electricity consumers nationwide.      

Inaprubahan ng Bicam ang Electric Cooperatives emergency and resiliency fund

Ang naging karanasan ng lalawigan ng Marinduque noong mapanalantang Typhoon NinaPH ang isa lamang na naging dahilan sa pagsulong ng bagong batas na ito para sa mga ECs.

Si Cong Lord Allan Velasco bilang Chair ng House Committee on Energy

Sa Bicameral Conference Committee, tungkol sa Electric Cooperatives Calamity Fund, na nasa ilalim ng mahusay na pangangasiwa ng Chairman ng House Committee sa Enerhiya, Rep. Lord Allan Jay Q. Velasco, at Tagapangulo ng Senado Committee on Energy, at Sen. Sherwin "Win" T. Gatchalian, ay inaprubahan ang huling balangkas ng mga hindi magkatugmang probisyon ng mga bersyon ng House at Senado (HB No. 7054 at SB No. 1461, ayon sa pagkakabanggit) sa Emergency and Resiliency Fund (ECERF) ng Electric Cooperatives.

Kasama ang mga Kinatawan na sina Uybarreta , Roque, Batocabe, Salon at Romero (na binubuo ng panel ng Kapulungan ng mga Kinatawan) at Senador Binay at Zubiri (na binubuo ng panel ng Senado).

Suporta at tulong sa Electric Cooperatives kapag may kalamidad

Sa kaso ng Marinduque ay rumisponde naman kapagdaka sa maikling panahon sa tulong ni Cong. Velasco ang mga EC's mula sa ibat-ibang lalawigan 

Ang panukalang batas na ito ay naghahangad na magbigay ng suporta at tulong sa Electric Cooperatives (ECs), na naaapektuhan ng mga hindi inaasahang kaganapan o force majeure upang agad na maibalik ang serbisyo ng kuryente, magbigay ng isang streamlined na proseso upang makakuha ng tulong pinansiyal, at magpatupad ng iba pang mga plano na makakatulong sa ECs na maging mas nakahanda sa pagharap sa mga natural na kalamidad sa hinaharap.

Sa karaniwan, mga dalawampung (20) bagyo ang bumibisita sa Pilipinas taun-taon, bukod pa sa iba pang mga sakuna tulad ng mga lindol at pagsabog ng bulkan. Ang mga kalamidad ay nagdudulot ng pagkasira ng mga pasilidad at pagkagambala sa serbisyo sa kuryente sa mga apektadong lugar.

Habang sinusubukan ng mga distribution utilities na ayusin ang kanilang mga pasilidad upang maibalik ang elektrisidad sa pinakamalapit na posibleng panahon, kadalasang kailangan nilang umasa sa mga magastos na instrumento sa pananalapi - na sa huli ay binabalikat ng mga consumers sa mga komunidad. 

Sa pagpasa ng ECERF sa batas, positibo si Kongresista Velasco na ang mga kooperatibang apektado ay makakakuha ng mas mabilis at magpapatuloy naman ang operasyon nang walang pasanin ang mga consumers.

Significant switch-on ceremony for white-sand Polo Islet, Sta. Cruz, Marinduque

Gracing Polo Islet switch-on ceremony: From left, Cong. Lord Allan Velasco, Marelco GM Gaudencio Sol, Jr., Sta. Cruz Mayor Marissa Red, Vice-Governor Romulo Bacorro, Jr., and Polo's barangay officials. Photo: Jewel Maxinne

Today, February 9, 2018, a Switch-on Ceremony was held in the quiet white-sand island of Polo in Sta. Cruz, Marinduque. It's in connection with the first ever installation of a three-phase submarine cable connecting Polo Islet to the Marinduque main grid. 

The second and third phase of the project involves the installation of similar submarine power cables from Polo to Maniwaya Island, then from Maniwaya Island to Mompong Island, also expected to be implemented this year.

According to Marelco general manager, Gaudencio Sol., Jr. as soon as all the service drops of Polo Island household are transferred to the new power line residents of the island will enjoy an uninterrupted 24/7 power supply. 

The P50-million project was funded through an electrification program of the National Electrification Administration under administrator Edgardo Masongsong who was appointed new NEA head in November 2016, by President Rodrigo Duterte.

Photo shows Cong. Velasco, NEA administrator Masongsong (second from right), Marelco GM Gaudencio Sol with NEA and Velasco's staff (left).

It will be recalled that a year ago, Marinduque Representative Lord Allan Velasco posted in his FB account thus: "Had lunch with NEA Admin. Masongsong... also reiterated for the electrification of the three islands in Sta. Cruz (Polo, Maniwaya, Mompong), in connection with tourism plans for the province. I just ask my kababayans to be patient with regard to the restoration of electricity (after Typhoon Nina), as this is no simple task."

Photo: Oliver Bautista

Mas gumanda nang estado ng Elektrisidad sa Marinduque isang taon matapos ang pananalanta ng Bagyong NinaPH

January 2018: Dumating sa Marinduque ang 1.5MW genset na hiniling ni Cong. Lord Allan Velasco sa mga kinauukulan.

Matapos ang mabilis na rehabilitasyon sa Marinduque ng mga nasirang power lines makaraan ang Bagyong Nina noong Disyembre 2016. Naganap ito sa tulong ng Task Force Kapatid (basahin sa ibaba).

Ngayon naman ay karagdagang 1.5MW generator para sa Torrijos Diesel Power Plant ang dumating na sa Marinduque sa tulong ng NPC, Marelco at Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte.

Marinduque, January 13, 2018, si Cong. Lord Allan Velasco ay nag-ulat:

Natutuwa po ako at isa isa ng natutupad ang pinaplano po natin para sa probinsya. Dumating na po ang nirequest nating 1.5MW na generator set na ilalagay po sa Torrijos Diesel Power Plant sa Brgy. Cagpo, Torrijos. Bukod sa pag may nasira sa linya papuntang Torrijos galing Boac ay hindi maapektuhan ang Torrijos, magiging stable ang voltage ng power, at maisasamang mabenepisyuhan dito ang bayan ng Sta. Cruz sa distribusyon ng kuryente.

Maraming maraming salamat sa Napocor, Marelco, at sa ating minamahal na Pangulo!

Torrijos Diesel Power Plant

STATUS OF POWER RESTORATION IN MARINDUQUE AS OF JANUARY 6, 2017

January 2017: Nagsidatingan sa Marinduque ang power crews mula sa ibat-ibang electric cooperatives sa Luzon para tumulong sa rehabilitasyon ng Marinduque matapos ang malakas na bagyo. Hiniling ni Cong. Lord Allan Velasco sa mga kinauukulan.

Patuloy pa rin ang rehabilitation ng mga nasirang linya ng Marelco dahil sa bagyong NINA, at ito ay sabay-sabay na isinasagawa sa anim na bayan ng ating lalawigan sa pamamagitan ng mga tauhan ng Marelco. Prayoridad ang pagsasaayos ng mga nasirang service drop wires upang mapailawan na ang mga kabahayan at iba’t-ibang establisyemento sa poblaciones na 4 na bayan (Boac, Gasan, Buenavista at Mogpog) na may kuryente na. Paghahanda naman para sa pagdating ng kuryente ang layunin ng service dropping na isinasagawa naman ng mga Linemen sa Sta Cruz at Torrijos.
Sa pagdating ng assistance mula sa Central at Southern Luzon sa pamamagitan ng Task Force Kapatid na binubuo ng mga sumusunod:

Pampanga Electric Cooperative I (PELCO I), Pampanga Electric Cooperative II (PELCO II), Tarlac Electric Cooperative I (TARELCO I), Tarlac Electric Cooperative II (TARELCO II), Batangas Electric Cooperative I (BATELCE I), Batangas Electric Cooperative II (BATELEC II), Romblon Electric Cooperative (ROMELCO).

Pag-uukulan naman ng prayoridad ang backbone lines papuntang Sta Cruz at Torrijos upang makumpleto na ang restoration sa 6 anim na bayan.

Mga konkretong pagkilos sa problema ng kuryente sa Marinduque inihayag na ni Cong. Lord Allan Velasco, plus breaking news!

Paghiling ni Cong. Velasco at pagkilos ni NAPOCOR President Pio Benavidez para sa upgrading ng mga linya ng kuryente at madagdagan ang kasalukuyang generators upang maayos ang voltage, supply at transmission ng kuryente sa Marinduque.

Pahayag ni Cong. Lord Allan Velasco hinggil sa Elektrisidad sa Marinduque 

Nitong nakaraang ika-13 ng Hunyo, nagtungo po ang inyong kinatawan sa NAPOCOR upang ilapit ang suliranin sa kuryente ng ating lalawigan. 

Malugod ko pong ibabalita sa ating mga mahal na Marinduqueño na tayo ay agarang pinakinggan at pinagbigyan ng NAPOCOR! Tinitiyak ni NAPOCOR President Pio Benavidez ang suportang ihahatid nila sa ating lalawigan, at ito ay ang sumusunod:

1) Upang hindi "numipis" ang daloy ng kuryente na nagmumula sa genset sa Boac, maglalagay ng isang 1.5 megawatt (mw) at isang 550 kilowatt (kw) na genset sa Torrijos ang Napocor upang lumakas ang boltahe ng kuryente sa Torrijos, Sta. Cruz at Buenavista;

2) Papalitan nila ang lumang 4mw na genset sa Boac ng limang bagong 1mw na mga genset sa Septyembre, 2017 at magdadag pa ng apat na 1mw na mga genset pagsapit ng 2018, upang masiguradong may sapat na supply ng kuryente para sa pangangailangan ng mga kabahayan, mga tanggapan, paaralan at negosyo sa Marinduque;

3) Aayusin din ang 69KV na linya ng kuryenteng tatakbo mula Boac hanggang Torrijos upang maging malakas ang daloy ng kuryente at maiwasan ang paiba-ibang boltahe na nakakasira sa ating mga kasangkapan.

4)Nangako din ang NAPOCOR na kanilang papalawigin ang serbisyo ng kuryente pará sa mga isla ng Maniwaya, Polo at Mongpong mula 8 oras hanggang 16 na oras pagsapit ng 2018. 

Dagdag nito ay sinusubaybayan ng inyong lingkod ang mga hakbang na ginagawa ng Marelco upang maresolba ang tuluyang brownout. At napasyahan nga nila na isa isahing inspeksyunan ang bawat poste sa buong probinsya na kung hindi ako nagkakamali, along sa national highway natin ay nasa 1200 na hindi pa kasama ang mga interior. 

Ginagawa na din po nila na putulin ang mga sanga ng mga puno na malapit sa mga Linya. Kukunin ko na po itong pagkakataon para makiusap sa mga kinaukulang mga Mayari ng mga lupang ito para payagan po ang Marelco na linisin ang paligid na malapit sa mga linya. Sinusuportahan ko po ang hakbangin na ginagawa nila at susuportahan nyo din po kung tuluyan na gusto natin matapos ang problema sa brownout. 

Asahan po ninyong patuloy ang inyong kinatawan na nakikipag-ugnayan sa kaukulang mga tanggapan upang maihatid ang nararapat na serbisyo pará sa ating mahal na lalawigan ng Marinduque.

Sana po ay magkaisa tayo at tigilan na ang bangayan pará sa ikauunlad ng probinsya! Maraming Salamat Po!!!!

Delivered gensets currently under test and commissioning by NPC to be operational by September 2017, additional gensets to be delivered and commissioned in Boac by 2018, delivered gensets in Torrijos will be commissioned once required control panels and cables are delivered onsite. Rehabilitation of 69 kV Boac-Torrijos transmission line with energization of said line by 2018; increased service from 8 hours to 16 hours in the islands of Maniwaya, Mongpong and Polo by 2018.

Cong LordAllan Velasco holds a meeting with Vice-Gov. Bacorro and Sangguniang Panlalawigan Board Members, together with Marinduque Electric Coop. (MARELCO), department heads and General Manager Gaudencio Sol to discuss electricity issues in Marinduque.

Breaking News! Pag-install ng solar panels sa ilang public at private buildings sa lalawigan ng Marinduque!

Pakikipagpulong sa Germany para gawing pilot province ang Marinduque para sa instllation ng solar panels sa ilang public or private buildings. Nasa larawan sina Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian. representante ng pribadong sektor sa Germany at Cong. Lord Allan Velasco.

Gandang gabi po sa lahat ng aking mga kababayan!!!

Bukas ko pa po sana ito ipopost subalit sa sobrang kasiyahan at excitement ko po ay hindi na ako makapagpigil. Kakatapos lang po ng inyong lingkod kasama ko po si Sec. Cusi ng DOE at ni Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian sa isang meeting dito sa Germany na napagkasunduan na gawing pilot province ng isang pribadong solar korporasyon ang probinsya natin. 

Hindi po sila magtatayo ng solar farm kundi may mga pipiliin na mga bahay o building whether private or public at ang mga bubong nila ang lalagyan ng solar panels. Paguusapan na po kung papaano ang scheme dito pero ayon sa mga napagusapan ay walang gagastusin ang kabahayan bagkus sila ay makita pa. 

Nakakataba ng puso talaga at naitulak natin ang probinsya at napili sya at nag issue na po ng order si Sec. Cusi para mapabilis ang pagpapatupad nito. Ngayong July ay maguumpisa na po ang pagassess at ang pagkilos para sa katuparan ng project na ito.

Mula dito sa Germany, Maraming maraming salamat po sa suporta!!!

To God be the Glory!!!!

- Cong. Lord Allan Velasco, Hunyo 22, 2017

Power outages in Marinduque due to defective units, to be fixed

‘Defective units’ will cause Marinduque brownouts for next several days, such as ‘defective varistor’ for Unit #1, burnt main stator for Unit #2 and defective breaker for Unit #6. Marelco’s new General Manager, Engr. Gaudencio M. Sol, Jr. has today issued a tentative schedule of power interruption as follows:

Wednesday, Dec. 12 between 5:00pm to 10:00pm.:

Tampus to phase portion of Boac Poblacion, Riverside Boac, Ilaya Boac, Tampus to Maygayo, Sto. Nino, Laylay, Laon to Balanacan, Mogpog; Nangka, Mogpog to Maligaya, Boac; High-town & Danao, Mogpog; Pili, Mendez, Sayao to Guisian, Mogpog.

Thursday, Dec. 13 between 5:00pm to 10:00pm.:

Magapua, Mogpog to Sta. Cruz & Torrijos backbone line and lateral lines.

Friday, Dec. 14 between 5:00pm to 10:00pm:

Ihatub, Boac to Gasan & Buenavista backbone line and lateral lines.

Saturday, Dec. 15 between 9:00am to 12:00 noon:

Bantad, Boac to Gasan and Buenavista backbone line and lateral lines. (Reason: Pull-out of automatic circuit recloser of Feeder 2 at Bantad;  fixing of primary jumpers of Feeder 2).

Between 5:00pm to 10:00pm:

Tampus to phase portion of Boac Poblacion, Riverside Boac, Ilaya Boac, Tampus to Maygayo, Sto. Nino, Laylay, Laon to Balanacan, Mogpog; Nangka, Mogpog to Maligaya, Boac; High-town & Danao, Mogpog; Pili, Mendez, Sayao to Guisian, Mogpog.

Sunday, Dec. 16 between 5:00pm to 10:00pm:

Magapua, Mogpog to Sta. Cruz & Torrijos backbone line and lateral lines.

Monday, Dec. 17 between 5:00pm to 10:00pm:

Ihatub, Boac to Gasan  & Buenavista backbone lateral line.

Saturday , Dec. 22 between 9:00am to 5:00pm:

Magapua, Mogpog to St. Cruz & Torrijos backbone line and lateral lines. (Reason: Replacement of defective automatic oil circuit re-closer at San Vicente, Sta. Cruz; installation of sectioning fuse cutout at San Vicente.

Meanwhile, the NPC Boac Diesel Power Plant issued the following Marinduque Grid Capability Report that shows the prevailing maximum demand at 7,630 kW with grid dependable capability at 6,500 kW. This shows a power deficiency of 1,130 kW.

Marinduque blackout on 10/10 from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm

The National Power Corporation-Small Power Utilities Group (NPC-SPUG), Marinduque Operations Division has requested the Marinduque Electric Cooperative (Marelco), for eight hours of total blackout from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm on Wednesday, October 10, 2012, to give way "for the test and commissioning of main transformer" in line with the energization of 10MVA Substation and 69KV lines.
Source: NPC and Marelco.

Cong. Velasco's barangay projects in Gasan

Gasan's ABC Hall

In the town of Gasan, Marinduque improvement of the Gasan ABC Hall through the construction of a third floor funded through Cong. Lord Allan Velasco’s Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF), construction of Pinggan Covered Court, construction of a classroom in Banuyo Elementary School,  and various farm-to-market road concreting projects in identified barangays, have been undertaken by the DPWH from the same fund source. Improvement of barangay multi-purpose buildings are in various stages of implementation alongside installation of water supply systems.

Pinggan Covered Court
For the 1^st tranche of PDAF 2012, bids and awards have been concluded by end of July and beginning of this month of September 2012 by the DPWH. Some of these projects are farm-to-market roads in Gasan (Antipolo, Dili), Boac (Tampus, Bangbangalon, Buliasnin, Tugos, Maybo), Mogpog (Silangan, Mendez, Laon, Market-Site to Janagdong), Buenavista ( Daykitin, Bicas-Bicas), multi-purpose buildings in Boac (Cawit, Tabi, San Miguel), Gasan (Bangbang, Mahunig), Buenavista (Brgy. Cuatro, Tungib-Lipata, Brgy. Dos, Malbog) and Torrijos (Malibago).

Dawis Farm-to-Market Road

Watch the video below of Cong. Lord Allan Velasco's barangay projects in the town of Gasan implemented by the DPWH and Marelco (in the case of sitio electrification). The government's sitio electrification and barangay line enhancement program was made possible through the intercession of Energy Secretary Jose Rene Almendras and congressional legislators. Read

Gasan Barangay Projects of Cong. Lord Allan Velasco

Php 16.3-million more for Marinduque sitio electrification

Marinduque Congressman Lord Allan Velasco

For 2012, the electrification of thirty-five (35) additional unenergized sitios in the Lone District of Marinduque  is currently being undertaken by the Marinduque Electric Cooperative (Marelco). With the Department of Budget and Management's (DBM) recent release of the 2012 appropriation for sitio electrification, subsidy funds for the thirty-five sitios have likewise been released.  Said fund was received by Marelco per Official Receipt No. 392875.  Marelco has been advised by the National Electrification Administration (NEA), for the timely completion of the project with the Congressional Office of the Lone District of Marinduque coordinating with the cooperative on the status of the project.

The project cost is Php 16.3-million. These sitios come in addition to the thirty (30) other sitios from Marinduque's six towns identified for CY-2011, with a project cost of Php 9.9-million.

Mabuti/Maunawain sitios in Guisian will be energized

These sitios have undergone proper validation conducted by the National Electrification Administration based on certain criteria. These are, proximity to the tapping line, density or the number of potential consumers, access to site and cooperation of barangay leaders and residents.

Sitio Kansulay in Hinapulan (Boac), will be energized.

Sitio electrification program is part of the national government thrust to accelerate socio-economic development in the countryside. It will be recalled that Sition Electrification and Barangay Line Enhancement program was made possible through the intercession of Energy Secretary Jose Rene Almendras and legislators including Marinduque Congressman Lord Allan Velasco.

Quticot in Timbo (Buenavista), will also be energized.

Maniwaya Island's sitios Baguio and Amerika (Sta. Cruz), will be energized

The additional sitios that will have better access to basic conveniences and improved standard of living as a result of this project are as follows:

In Boac: Ibaba (Sabong), Kansulay (Hinapulan), Bahay Igat (Maybo), Ilaya (Bayuti), Ibaba (tambunan), Quticot;
In Buenavista:  Quticot (Timbo), Pasilungan (Bagacay), Navaid (Bagtingon), Biga (Tungib);
In Gasan: Caballero/Gumamela (Pingan), Ilaya (Bacong-Bacong), Central 1 & 2 (Tiguion), Isok (tiguion), Matahimik (Dawis), Andanay (Bachao Ibaba);
In Mogpog: Mabuti/Maunawain (Guisian), Ibabang Danao (Danao), Camia (Puting Buhangin), Gumamela (Puting Buhangin), Matalao (Sayao), Tagudlod (Danao), Purok II (Malayak);
In Sta. Cruz: Benditahan (Tambangan), Baguio (Maniwaya), Amerika (Maniwaya), Bilibugan (Lusok), Matala/Kailogan (Caganhao), Malaking Bundok (Makulapnit), Tawang (Tambangan), Kay Boong (Tambangan);
In Torrijos: Tambunan/Daungan (Marlanga), Pawikan (Tigwi), Kay Poo (Tigwi), Purok II (Nangka), Sinambahan (Malibago).

Sitio Sinambahan in Malibago, Torrijos will be energized.

Switching on Sta. Cruz sitios

Congressman Lord Allan Velasco and Sta. Cruz Mayor Percival Morales together with MARELCO officials led by board president, Beethoven Arevalo are expected to attend the official switch-on ceremony for the line extension of Sitio Ilaya in Brgy. Masalukot and Sitio Bagumbungan in Brgy. San Isidro, all in Sta. Cruz.

Implementation of this project in all 30 sitios in Marinduque's six towns identified under the national government's electrification and barangay line enhancement program are expected to be completed before the end of December this year.









The program is expected to help bring jobs to rural areas and, for the residents, access to basic convenience.












Sitio Bagumbungan in San Isidro is the site of San Isidro Caves, one of Sta. Cruz town's increasingly popular tourist destinations.

30 Marinduque sitios for electrification

President Benigno S. Aquino III has approved the Sitio Electrification and Barangay Line Enhancement Program as part of his thrust of accelerating socio-economic development in the countryside. This was made possible through the intercession of Energy Secretary Jose Rene Almendras and legislators including Cong. Allan Velasco, supportive of the rural electrification program.

As a result, funds have been released to the Marinduque Electric Cooperative (MARELCO), among other electric coops by the National Electrification Administration (NEA) under official receipt no. 374631 for the implementation of projects to various sitios in the Lone District of Marinduque.

The list of sitios validated by NEA based on the criteria such as proximity to the tapping line, density or the number of potential consumers, access to site and also the cooperation of local leaders and residents are as follows:

In Boac: Sitio Mansapay, (Mahinhin), Sitio Bana/Pinagsangahan (Canat), Sitio Amotiongan (Binunga), Sitio Hantikin (Agumaymayan);
In Sta. Cruz: Sitio Ilaya (Masalukot), Sitio Ibaba (Kinyaman), Sitio Galiangan (Buyabod), Sitio Bundok (Jolo), Sitio Pantayin (Buyabod), Sitio Bagumbungan (San Isidro), Sitio Anusan (Dating Bayan), Sitio Kaluyahan/Punta (Polo), Sitio Duongan (Taytay), Sitio Mompong (Haguimit);

In Buenavista: Sitio Haynon (Malbog), Sitio Proper (Bicas-bicas, Sitio Kawayanan (Timbo), Zone 4 & 5 (Brgy. III), Sitio Ilaya (Bonliw);

In Torrijos: Sitio Mabilog (Makawayan), Sitio Mirasol (Malinao), Sitio Centro (Malibago), Sitio GK Poktoy (Poktoy), Sitio Danao (Sibuyao);

In Gasan: Sitio Libtangin, Cabugao, Purok, 2, 5 & 6 (Mahunig), Purok 2 (Banot;

In Mogpog: Sitio Lumandas (Magapua), Sitio Ilaya (Balanacan), Sitio Banga-banga (Balanacan).

The sitio electification and barangay line enhancement infrastructure is expected to bring jobs to rural areas, more access to basic conveniences and more improved standard of living for the barangay residents.

NEA has advised MARELCO to ensure the timely completion of the project, the status of project implementation of which will be coordinated by the Office of Congressman Velasco.

Shot in the arm for NPC as Marinduque and SPUG areas are threatened by new wave of outages

Repost from Philippine Daily Inquirer, Sept. 2, 2011

Napocor getting P1.6B for SPUG

By: Amy R. Remo, Philippine Daily Inquirer

National Power Corp. will receive from the government P1.6 billion to help finance the operations of small power utilities group (SPUG) in off-grid and missionary areas in the country.

At the sidelines of the Renewable Energy Leadership Roundtable on Thursday, Napocor president Froilan A. Tampinco said the power firm received last week the approval for the additional SPUG funding, which would come from the royalties paid for the Malampaya natural gas field.

“We got another shot in the arm, so to speak, from the government,” Tampico said, adding that the amount would be used by Napocor for the SPUG’s operations up to the end of the year.

Of the P1.6 billion, Tampinco said about P1.3 billion would be used for the fuel requirements of the SPUG facilities in various remote areas in the country. The balance will be used to purchase “critical spare parts and other requirements of our generation sets.”

According to Tampinco, the amount was on top of the P2 billion it received earlier from the government, which also came from the Malampaya funds.

Both the P1.6 billion and P2 billion represent reimbursements of the advances made by Napocor for the preservation of the mothballed 620-megawatt Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP).


Just last week, Napocor filed a petition with the Energy Regulatory Commission for an additional P4.3 billion in fees to enable its SPUG to continue operations, as well as prevent a fuel shortage and the consequent shutdown of power facilities.

Marinduque, Romblon and Tablas: what do they have in common?

In the light of so much finger-pointing and disinformation campaigns that, again, as expected, happens every time so-called Marinduque energy summits are organized for the consumption of the much abused seemingly powerless people of Marinduque, they who must jolt the seats of power with their complaints, it would be necessary to start at the very beginning if we must be fair to those maliciously maligned continuously.

Following is an item from IFC and the sequence of events covering October 2004 to July 2009, on the involvement of a new power provider in Marinduque that failed to deliver the power supply promised.

"Coastal Power Consortium Wins Competitive Bid To Privatize Electricity Supply in Marinduque, Romblon and Tablas"

In Manila:
Karen Villalobos

Manila, September 9, 2005 — The Philippine Department of Energy and the International Finance Corporation, the private sector arm of the World Bank Group, today announced that a consortium comprising of Coastal Power Development Corporation and Applied Research Technologies Philippines won a competitive bid to supply power to the Philippine islands of Marinduque, Romblon, and Tablas. The winning bidder proposed a hybrid diesel-wind energy solution that will improve standards and bring the generation into compliance with Philippines environmental standards.

Private sector participation was structured through a concession-type contract between the winning bidder and local electric cooperatives that take the power on these islands. The framework of this concession does not require the private supplier to buy existing generation assets of the National Power Corporation, allowing those assets to be deployed to unserved areas in the Philippines.

The winning bidder’s price will lead to a reduction of about 40% from the current cost (13.8 pesos per kilowatt hour) of generating power in the islands. The Coastal Power Consortium agreed to provide power without interruption all year long, compared with the current average interruption of 196 hours, or eight days, per month. The group bid to provide 25 megawatts of combined electric capacity to the three islands not connected to the national power grid.

IFC was charged with developing the agreements and a regulatory framework to attract private sector capital and expertise to power generation in remote islands. IFC was retained in 2004 by the Philippine government through the Department of Energy, National Power Corporation, and the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corporation to act as transaction advisor.

The Coastal Power consortium will take responsibility for power supply from the Small Power Utilities Group, which is part of the National Power Corporation. SPUG has maintained responsibility for supplying power to 74 remote offgrid islands. The annual subsidy requirement for all these islands amounts to 2.1 billion pesos. Only about 60 percent of that cost is covered by a universal service charge assessed to ongrid customers. The remaining 40 percent is passed on to the national deficit through NPC.

The Private Investor will be able to supply electricity to the 3 islands at a lower cost than the current government-managed operation and thus reduce the annual subsidy for electricity from 458 million pesos to 168 million pesos.

“IFC strategy includes support for power sector reform in the Philippines through increased private sector participation that promotes competition. The interest in this transaction provides tangible results for the ongoing power reform agenda in the Philippines,” said IFC Country Manager Vipul Bhagat.

“This model public-private partnership structure, wherein the investor achieves full cost recovery and profits from the electric cooperatives and partially through government subsidy, can be replicated for other infrastructure transactions in the Philippines and elsewhere,” said IFC Director of Advisory Services Bernie Sheahan.

SEQUENCE OF EVENTS RE: 3I POWERGEN ISSUE


PSA with 3i Powergen, Inc. was not MARELCO’s own initiative, but the government’s program of the NPC-SPUG’s privatization of assets by virtue of Republic Act No. 9136 or the EPIRA Law. Pursuant to Rule 13 of the IRR of RA 9136, Department of Energy (DOE) Circular 2004-01-001 prescribed the Rules and Procedures for Private Sector Participation. Marinduque, together with Tablas and Romblon, was selected to be a pilot project for privatization among the so called 14 WAVES ECs under the NPC-SPUG areas.

October 24, 2004 - Marelco signed a Memorandum of Agreement hiring the International Finance Corporation (IFC) as its official Transaction Advisor.

September 9, 2005 - The Competitive Selection Process was launched
and the Coastal Consortium (Incorporated as 3i Powergen, Inc.) was declared winner having offered the lowest TCGR of P7.171/kwh and will supply the power requirements of Marinduque up to 12.480 Kw for a period of fifteen (15)years.

September 27, 2005 - The Power Supply Agreement was signed at the
WESM office in Pasig City. On that same occasion, a Subsidy Agreement with 3i Powergen and NPC was executed.

January 27, 2006 - Effective Date ( four months from the date of the PSA).This was not attained as some Conditions Precedent was not complied with by 3i Powergen, such that the parties agreed to a Joint Declaration of the Realization of the Effective Date following the waiver to secure Government Consents thru the 1st Supplemental Agreement.

March 9, 2006 - 1st Supplemental Agreement was signed by both parties wherein the period to obtain the ECC and other government consents was waived.

March 2007 - The original Target Commercial Operation Date (16 months after the Effective Date –January 2006.

March 14, 2007- 3i Powergen requested for extension for six months of Target Commercial Operation Date on the ground that the PSA has not yet been approved by ERC. In effect Target Commercial Operation was moved to July 7, 2007.

March 23, 2007 - Public Hearing for the approval of Application for Power Supply Agreement (PSA) and NPP TCGR held at Marelco MCIL, Ihatub, Boac, Marinduque.

(Marelco employees submitted a Petition for Further Review of the PSA and consideration of the recommendations thereof prior to approval of the application by the ERC)

June 27, 2007 - The Second Supplemental Agreement to the PSA was
signed regarding Extension of Commercial Operation Period to 12 months or July 7, 2008.

July 2007 - Assumption into office of newly elected Congressman (Carmencita Reyes) and newly elected Governor (Jose Antonio Carrion).

August 17, 2007 - The Board passed Resolution No. 2007-044- Approving to Recall the 2nd Supplemental Agreement to the Power Supply Agreement regarding Extension of Commercial Operation Date due to following reasons:

1. The deployment of generating unit at an aggregate capacity of not less than 12 MW including transformers and necessary accessories to NPC compounds has not been concurred by NPC because of some provisions in the Agreement that are not acceptable to NPC.

2. 3i Powergen has violated Condition No. 2.1a3 of the Agreement because construction of Power Plant at Balogo Sta. Cruz has ceased and therefore Condition 2.1a4 shall now apply regarding denial to grant Extension of the Commencement of the Commercial Operation Period.

This rendered the 12 months extension invalid thereby reverting the Target Commercial Operation Date to its Original date July 7, 2007. Said turn of events gave rise to “SUPPLIER DELAY.” Based on PSA Section 4.4.2 MARELCO may already invoke the right to impose appropriate penalty to be taken from the Performance Bond.

October 3, 2007 - The Board passed Resolution No. 2007-049 - A Resolution Notifying 3i Powergen, New Power Provider for Marinduque of its Delay for the Commercial Operation Date and Approving to Claim Against its Performance Bond.

May 2008 - The Board passed Resolution No. 2008-020 - A Resolution Requiring 3i Powergen to Immediately Submit a Written Progress Report on the Status of Project in Marinduque.

July 7, 2008 - Target Commercial Operation Date:

The Target Commercial Operation Date was not attained due to the following reasons:

1. 3i Powergen was still waiting for the release of funds from their investors before they could start procurement of capital equipment

2. 3i Powergen was waiting for ERC’s approval of the PSA and TCGR in order to protect the interest of their investor.

3. Construction at the plant site has long been stopped.

4. 3i Powergen did not comply with the Government Consents.

July 17, 2009 - The Board passed Resolution No. 2009-039 – A Resolution for the
Board to Exercise its Rights Under Section 10.4 of the PSA Between Marelco and 3i Powergen Inc.

Commercial operations of 3i Powergen in the three NPC-SPUG areas of Marinduque, Romblon and Tablas in accordance with Power Supply Agreements with the relevant electric cooperatives all failed to materialize.

Power double talk

Timeline:

Sept. 27, 2005 – Power supply agreement signed with Marelco, NPC and 3i Powergen under the administration of Gov. Carmencita Reyes.
Feb. 2007 – Commercial operation was to commence (still under the administration of Gov. Reyes). This did not happen.
June 2007 – Extension of contract requested by 3i from Marelco expired.
Sept. 11, 2009 – Resolution purportedly rescinding the power supply agreement was issued by Marelco.
Oct. 12, 2009 – Rally spearheaded by the Bishop of Boac for “Truth and Transparency”.
October 25, 2009, “Final solution” with arrival of gensets from Palawan but with lease agreement between NPC and Agrekko expiring on January 7, 2010.
Jan.- Feb. 2011 - Power outages due to diesel fuel shortage directly related to the NPC's technical bancruptcy. 39 electric cooperatives in NPC-SPUG areas in the country experienced recurrent brown-outs.
June 20, 2011 – Receipt of bids from new bidders.
July 8, 2011 – Opening of bids. No official public announcement appears to have been made on bidding result.
July 20, 2011 - Power outages due to diesel fuel shortage and defective unit/s at Power Barge 12o in Balanacan.

She says, others say:

Quotes from Gov. Carmencita Reyes from her official Fb page:

"…I have already given specific instructions on what course of action we are going to take. The MARELCO problem has blown out of proportion. The provincial government has received reliable information that the perennial cause of the electricity supply problem in Marinduque is due to the gross incompetence and negligence of the management of MARELCO. Sources told that MARELCO owes around P69M for VAT payments alone. This amount is relatively small compared to how much MARELCO owes NAPOCOR. From all indications, MARELCO has been grossly mismanaged.

“I am personally not enthusiastic about tapping independent power producers/investors as a means to solve this problem. It might do us some good at the onset because normal electricity flow can be restored in a shorter period of time. However, the risk that is not clearly visible in this scenario is that after some time, there is a strong possibility that this independent power producer/investor can and may exploit us by exorbitant and unreasonable electricity bills and unnecessary fees… (Aug. 2, 2011)

“Ang MARELCO ay isang "kooperatiba" na napapasailalim ng patnubay ng National Electrification Administration (NEA). Walang autoridad ang Provincial Government sa pamamalakad ng MARELCO…”

“3i Power Gen did not go bankrupt…”

From a Sangguniang Panlalawigan media release after meeting with Marelco and NPC July 25, 2011:

"...Bagaman at alam ng buong kapulungan na ang Sangguniang Panlalawigan maging ang Gobernador o sinumang opisyal ng pamahalaang lokal ay walang papel na batayan upang makontrol o pakialaman ang anumang desisyon at pamamalakad ng MARELCO, kooperatiba, ang tunay na nagmamay-ari ay ang taong bayan na konsumidor ng kuryente.

"Gayundin ang mga local na opisyal ng pamahalaan ay walang pananagutan sa estratehiya o programa ng NEA, Department of Energy at ng NAPOCOR na may layuning missionary electrification na unti-unti na ring pinuputol ng pamahalaang nasyunal, hindi maiwasan ng SP bilang boses ng taong bayan na kundenahin ang mga namumumuno dito. Gayon pa man lahat ng paraan ay ginagawa ng SP upang makatulong at maibsan ang suliranin sa kuryente..."

Rewind to 2009:


Board member Jose Alvarez, an ally of Gov. Bong Carrion also referred to ‘mga pulitiko’, but politicians, he said, who were those "behind 3i Powergen and Marelco" (watch this video taken after the rally of Oct. 12, 2009:

Excerpts from the video:

“...Hindi po ba natin alam na kaya po naging ganyan, sinabi na rin po ni Bishop, na nasa likod ang mga pulitiko sa likod ng 3i Powergen… sino po ang nasa likod niyan, sino po ang nasa likod ng Marelco? Yan po ang dapat nating alamin, tingnan po natin kng paano natin mabubuwag ang mga pulitikong nasa likod ng 3i Powergen, nasa likod ng Marelco at nasa likod ng maraming kasinungalingang nagaganap dito sa ating lalawigan...

“Tingnan po natin kung sino talaga ang totoong nang-aapi dito sa atin sa napakatagal na panahong walang pag-angat dito sa ating lalawigan…”

Rewind further back to 2006.

In 2006, Manila-based newspapers like Malaya, Aug. 6, 2006, Manila Bulletin, Aug. 6, 2006 and Manila Standard Today, Aug. 7, 2006, ran similar articles stating:

“...The Board of Investments granted incentives to the three hybrid wind-diesel plants of 3i Powergen Inc. (in Marinduque and Romblon), with combined investments of P1.448 billion. ...

“...All three plants will start commercial operations by February 2007.”

Came February 2007, (with both mother and son team of Reyes sitting as congressman and governor), such commercial operations did not commence anywhere in the islands mentioned.

Came July 2007, there was still no 3i-produced power in Marinduque. By this time a new administration under Gov. Carrion won the election in May 2007, ran the capitol, while the older Reyes sat as Marinduque congress representative.

On 3i’s failure to deliver, 3i vice-president Lagundi reasoned thus: “Ang nangyari.... ay ang pagkakaantala ng pagpapalabas ng loan mula sa mga imbestor dahil sa nararanasang global financial crisis…" (Aug.11, 2008, SP)

One year later, 2009:

“Marelco general manager, Eduardo Bueno said: “Hindi naging makatotohanan ang 3I Powergen, hindi sila nakapag deliver. Iyang 12.48 na iyan kung saan itatayo ang power plant sa Balogo Sta. Cruz. Kung sino man po ang taga Sta. Cruz kung mapapasyal kayo doon makikita natin ay puro hukay. Hinukay nila noong October 2006. Hanggang ngayon po hindi ko alam ang kanilang natapos doon sa proyekto na iyon.” (Jul 6, 2009, SP)

Board member Eleuterio Raza, Jr. said, on the other hand: “...noong pinatawag po natin ang (vice) president ng 3I Powergen si Atty. Domingo Lagundi... he admitted in the session of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan that they are financially incapable to construct the facilities in compliance with the requirements of the obligation. In my view that would send a signal for Marelco’s board to finally decide to rescind or not to rescind the contract...” (July 6, 2009)

Board member Jose Alvarez: “...sinasabi na ni Atty. Lagundi na wala po talaga silang kakayahan at halos magmakaawa at umiyak dito. Actually ang nangyari po parang nag-speculate lang sila na may papasok. Iyon naman po ay practice na tinatanggap natin dahil meron naman silang kaugnayan sa ibat-iba pang mga negosyante subalit hindi katanggap-tanggap iyong katagalan ng proseso.” (July 6, 2009)


SP board member Querubin talked of conspiracy and economic sabotage: “...maaring may sabwatan sa pagitan ng Marelco at 3i Powergen dahil sa kabila ng katotohanan na walang kapasidad ang huli na magsuplay ng kuryente patuloy pa rin ang kontrata... kaya maituturing na economic sabotage ang ginagawa ng Marelco at 3i Powergen dahil apektado ang ekonomiya ng lalawigan”. (Sept. 30,2009)








Amoingon sunset and a silhouette dream.