Two of Mindanao’s leading advocates for reliable and cheap electricity have joined hands to bring more transparency to some apparently contradicting energy policies of government and proffer possible solutions acceptable to all stakeholders.
The Integrated Institute of Electrical Engineers-Cagayan de Oro Chapter (IIEE-CdO) and the Mindanao Coalition of Power Consumers (MCPC) will bring the third edition of the Mindanao Power Forum as a side event of the 19th IIEE Northern Mindanao Regional Conference (NMRC) scheduled for April 9-11, 2015 at the Limketkai Luxe Hotel in Cagayan de Oro City.
Dubbed “Mindanao Power Forum Update III” the forum, co-sponsored by the Alsons Power Group, National Grid Corporation of the Philippines and STEAG State Power, Inc. will focus on the theme “Privatizing Agus-Pulangi: Balancing the Interests of Stakeholders in the Mindanao Grid” and will be held Friday, 10 April 2015 from 1:00-5:00PM at the Limketkai Luxe Hotel Function Room.
“We have sought this partnership with the IIEE to enable the ordinary consumer, private distribution utilities, rural electric cooperatives and other stakeholders in the Mindanao power industry to come together in an annual forum to discuss issues affecting the island’s power grid and map out possible solutions in an objective platform of unity and cooperation, rather than confrontation and distrust,” said Engr. David A. Tauli, president and spokesman of the Mindanao Coalition of Power Consumers (MCPC).
“We have organized this third edition of the Mindanao Power Forum specifically to update our members in IIEE-NMRC on the current power issues affecting our island,” said Engr. Nonito A. Oclarit. VP-External Affairs of the host IIEE-CdO Chapter.
This year’s theme focuses on the impending privatization of the capacities of government owned generating facilities, particularly the Agus-Pulangui hydropower complex which provides over half of the island’s electricity.
To place the discussion in its proper context, Engr. Cereal C. Donggay, former Vice-President for Mindanao of the National Power Corporation (Napocor) and currently president of the Oro Chamber, will render an overview on “The Evolving Power Mix in the Mindanao Grid and the Crucial Role of the Agus-Pulangi Hydropower Complex in the Long-Term Energy Outlook.”
As Napocor’s former VP for Mindanao, Engr. Donggay will relate how the grid was managed in the past to keep the prices of electricity low and brownouts to a minimum.
Also sharing his experience as former Napocor President and Chief Executive Officer is Mr. Guido Alfredo A. Delgado with his topic “Privatizing the Agus and Pulangi Hydropower Plants: An Alternative.”
He will be followed by Dr. Ricardo E. Rotoras, D’Engg., president of the Mindanao University of Science and Technology on “The Rationale and Implications to the Mindanao Grid of the privatization of the contracted capacities of the Mt. Apo Geothermal Power Plants.”
Not the least, Engr. Tauli will discourse on “The People’s Agenda for the Mindanao Power Corporation” to clarify what exactly the proposed MPC aims to achieve.
Among the distinguished members of the panel of reactors representing the various stakeholders in the Mindanao electricity industry are Atty. Beatriz Irina Denise C. Alazas, Manager, Energy Trading Department, Power Sector Assets & Liabilities Management Corporation (PSALM);
Dr. Alan T. Ortiz, President & COO, SMC Global Power Holdings Corp., San Miguel Corporation and former president of the National Transmission Corporation (TRANSCO); Atty. Francis Saturnino C. Juan, Executive Director, Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC); Rep. Edgardo R. Masongsong, 1-CARE Party List, Congress of the Philippines; Mr. Ralph U. Paguio, Senior Vice President, CEPALCO; Engr. Eugene H. Bicar, Head-Mindanao Systems Operations, National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP)’ and Mr. Romeo M. Montenegro, Director for Investment Promotion and Public Affairs, Mindanao Development Authority (MindDA) and executive director of the Mindanao Power Monitoring Committee (MPMC).
The Open Forum will be moderated by Mr. Clint Django G. Pacana, Executive Director, Association of Mindanao Rural Electric Cooperatives (AMRECO) and the day’s proceedings will be synthesized and summarized by Atty. Dionel O. Albina, PENG, Research Head, Institute of Power Economics (IPSEC), MUST.
The forum is open to the public for a P300 entrance fee to cover the costs of snacks, handouts and other consumables. For further inquiries, interested participants are invited to contact Committee Chair, Engr. Nonito A. Oclarit through email at iiee. or through mobile No: 0917-563-3300. You may also contact the forum staff Ms. Jessa Aparece at mobile no. 0906-179-5219 or Landline/Fax No: (088) 857-7993.
Additional information are also available from our Media Partners BusinessWeek Mindanao and Mindanao Daily News (exclusive media partners), Parasat Cable TV and Jade Cable TV Systems, and our social media partners CDO.Dev.Com (Progress Watch: Cagayan de Oro and Misamis Oriental), clix.com.ph (Cagayan de Oro’s Premier Go-To Site) and Kagay-an.com, Online News from Cagayan de Oro. The Cagayan de Oro Energy Press Corps is the forum’s exclusive media coverage partners.
-30-