Thursday, July 01, 2010

Boracay To Get Electricity From Coal-fired Power Plant


Boracay Island resort will soon get a boost of its electricity requirement as the Aklan Electric Cooperative (AKELCO) plans to distribute coal-fired power to their consumers beginning next year.

Akelco is the exclusive power distributor in Aklan, including Pandan and Libertad, Antique, and in this resort island.

For several years, stakeholders in Boracay have been experiencing worsening power outages due to the diminishing electricity supply.

Chito Peralta, Akelco general manager said, "they are presently coordinating with the Panay Electric Cooperative (PECO) in Iloilo which earlier announced it would operate a 164-megawatt coal-fired power plant this September".

The coal fired power plant is being established in Dingle, Iloilo.

"We believe that PECO uses a cleaner technology for its coal-fired and it is safer for the consumption of Boracay island. We are currently negotiating with them for our possible buying of electricity for our consumption next year," Peralta revealed.

Akelco is currently getting power from the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines and with the Global Business Power Corporation (GBPC) which utilizes diesel power plant.

"What is good news for now is that we have rescinded the 20 years exclusivity contract with the GBPC and we are now hoping on the operation of the coal-fired power plant," said Peralta.

Akelco is also waiting for the establishment of the 12-megawatt biomass power plant in Banga, Aklan by the ASEA One Power Corporation.

DPWH Fast Tracks 17 Bridge Projects in Panay

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) regional office, Iloilo City is racing against time in the construction of new replacement bridges in Panay Island particularly in the provinces of Antique, Capiz and Iloilo as part of DPWH rehabilitation efforts on typhoon Frank-damaged infrastructures in Western Visayas two years ago.

DPWH Reg. Dir. Rolando M. Asis disclosed that Secretary Victor A. Domingo inspected the bridge projects recently and ordered the fast-tracking and completion of these projects as the new government under President Benigno Aquino III may appoint a new DPWH Secretary by July.

Domingo visited the ongoing construction of 150.30 lineal meters Nichols Bridge spanning the Aganan River in Alimodian, Iloilo and ordered contractor Toyo-Tobishima Joint Venture and consultants Katahira Engineers International to expedite the construction works.

The bridge project in Alimodian is implemented under the Urgent Bridges Construction Projects for Rural Development (UBCPRD) of the President’s Bridge Program Office (PBPO) under DPWH Assistant Secretary Emil K. Sadain.

Asis said a total of 17 bridges are included under UBCPRD contract package 4 covering the provinces of Iloilo, Capiz and Antique in areas severely affected by typhoon "Frank".

Ongoing is the construction of Balua Bridge, also in Alimodian, as well as Culasi Bridge in Ajuy, Iloilo and Habana Bridge in Dumarao, Capiz.

Also ongoing are the Bongol Bridge in Valderrama; Igdalaguit Bridge in Tobias Fornier; Bayo, Butuan, Sira-an, Dapog, Panabigan, Iba, Bongalonan, and Dapdap Bridges in Anini-y; Bia-an Bridge in Hamtic; Nagdayao Bridge and Catungan Bridge in Sibalom, all in the province of Antique.(PNA) /MP

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