Protests greet plan to sell Mindanao hydropower plants

DIGOS CITY—Mindanao power utilities have launched an island-wide protest action against the proposed sale of two hydroelectric systems that provide cheap power, a power cooperative official said on Tuesday.

Godofredo Guya, general manager of Davao del Sur Electric Cooperative, said the Association of Mindanao Rural Electric Cooperatives (Amreco) is planning to hold rallies with consumers island-wide against the planned sale of the Agus and Pulangi hydroelectric systems.

The 33-member Amreco gets its electric supply from hydroelectric sources.

Guya said members of the group would hang streamers in their offices and distribute vehicle stickers opposing the planned sale.

Power rates in Mindanao, according to Guya, are likely to increase if the two hydroelectric systems were sold. Average power rate in Mindanao is P6.15 per kilowatt hour.

The two facilities—Agus in Lanao and Pulangui in Bukidnon—are government-owned and run by the National Power Corp.

“We cannot afford to make consumers pay more than what they should,” he said.

Early this year, Amreco also passed a resolution protesting the sale of the two hydroelectric sources.

Guya said Amreco is recommending that instead of privatizing the two hydroelectric systems, the government should instead amend the Electric Power Industry Reform Act.

“Hydroelectric plants must not be privatized because these are natural resources,” he said.

Guya said Amreco was also finalizing plans to build a 300-megawatt facility to counter the rising cost of electricity in Mindanao. Orlando B. Dinoy, Inquirer Mindanao