The
power consumption of key cities in the Davao Region has already exceeded its power supply available in the area, according to Presidential Adviser for Mindanao Jesus Dureza.
Dureza said the reported looming power crisis come 2010 attributed to the "tremendous" economic growth in the cities of Davao, General Santos, Tagum in Davao del Norte and Digos in Davao del Sur, have caused a surge in the demand for power.
"We are consuming more power, but we do not have new power sources," Dureza said.
Another factor is the kind of industries that are being set up in the region, particularly by the (Information Technology (IT) sector and manufacturing.
However, Dureza said this early, the government is already addressing such concerns.
He said the new transmission lines put up by the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines on the eastern coast of Mindanao which will provide another link for Southern Mindanao and Northern Mindanao.
Department of Energy Undersecretary Zamzamin Ampatuan has earlier confirmed the looming power crisis, emphasizing that the power crisis has already started.
"We are already experiencing the power crisis, but we are not that aware because we do not yet feel its effects," Ampatuan said, referring to the public.
One of the problems seen by the DOE and the private sector is the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) of 2001, which does not allow the national government to own and operate power plants.
A top executive of the Davao Light and Power Company said that to avert the crisis, there is a strong need for the construction of new power plants wherein a period from 38 to 40 months to complete the construction of a power plant.
At present, the Alcantara Group, a power generating company in Mindanao, is eyeing to build a 200MW coal-fired power plant in Maasim, Saranggani Province.
However, some sectors, particularly the environmental groups criticized the plan despite the company's effort to build a carbon sink around the power plant. (PNA)
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