Rep. Josephine “Nene” Ramirez-Sato
MANILA, Philippines – Power outlook is improving in Occidental Mindoro as power sources go onboard to provide at least 29 megawatts to consumers, Rep. Josephine “Nene” Ramirez-Sato assured her constituents following the commitment of the national government to help address the province’s energy stability woes.
“Magandang balita po ang ating dala para sa ating mga kababayang naninirahan sa Occidental Mindoro: Sa mga susunod na buwan po ay magkakaroon na ang ating probinsiya ng mas reliable na supply ng kuryente. Ito po ay katuparan ng lahat ng ating pagsisikap at pakikipag-usap sa pamahalaan para siguruhin na magiging maayos ang supply ng kuryente sa ating lalawigan,” Sato said.
She aded: “Sa aming pag-uusap ni Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi kamakailan, nangako po siya na tutulungan tayo ng DOE na magkaroon ng stable power supply. Sinabi rin po ni Sec. Cusi na suportado ng Pangulong Duterte ang ating mga programa ukol sa pagsisiguro ng sapat na supply ng kuryente sa ating probinsiya.”
Sato has been bridging coordination gaps among energy national regulatory agencies such as the Department of Energy, Energy Regulatory Commission, National Power Commission, and National Electrification Administration, and the province’s sole power distributor Occidental Mindoro Electric Cooperative Inc. (OMECO) and supplier, the Occidental Mindoro Consolidated Power Corp. (OMCPC).
From1993 to 2018, the Island Power Corporation (IPC) had the exclusive right to provide power to the province. During the period, or for 25 years, the province suffered from rotational brownouts of eight to 12 hours a day. IPC is a company affiliated with the family of a prominent former public official from the province.
Sato, a three-term lawmaker, has been a reliable troubleshooter in providing a solution to the energy supply and stability problem in Occidental Mindoro. She has been a consistent ally and defender of electric consumers and energy stakeholders in and out of the province and has been providing appropriate intervention to ensure the adequate supply of power to meet the province’s rising demands amid a limited power generation capacity.
Sato said engine maintenance work on OMCPC’s 20-MW diesel power plant is expected to be completed within the next two months, or by October, and could thus already fully operate and provide 20 megawatts of power to the mainland. The operation of the OMCPC plant was given the go-signal by the ERC in 2017.
Likewise, Sato has received communication from OMECO that the commissioning and synchronization of the new 5MW genset of the OMCPC and the existing 4 MW gensets of the NPC, all located in Tayamaan, Mamburao, has been successful, and that the plants are “now ready for commercial operation.”
Current power demand in the province is placed at 27 MW during the summer months, and at a lower 19MW during the rainy season. The 29MW power supply from the OMCPC’s power plant and genset, and the NPC’s gensets is enough to meet the demand and stop the rotational brownouts that have affected households since April.
“Unti-unti na pong nagkakaroon ng liwanag ang ating matagal nang pangarap na magkaroon ng maayos na supply ng kuryente sa ating probinsiya. Naging mahirap po para sa ating lahat ang patay-sindi na supply ng ating kuryente nitong mga nakalipas na maraming taon. Ngunit hindi po ito naging balakid para sa inyong abang lingkod para lalong magpursige na dahin sa kaalaman ng national governnment ang ating problema. Ngayon po ay nagbubunga na ang ating pinaghirapan,” Sato said.
“Serbisyong mapagkakatiwalaan. Iyan po ang kailangan ng mga tiga-Occidental Mindoro. Iyan po ang serbisyong aking maipapangako sa aking mga kababayan. Hindi ko po kayo bibiguin,” Sato added.