Aquino inspects 3 water, energy projects in Central Luzon
President Benigno Aquino III in San Jose, Tarlac for the launch of the BBMP project, first implemented by his mother former President Corazon Aquino. KRISTINE ANGELI SABILLO/INQUIRER.net
TARLAC CITY — President Benigno Aquino III went province-hopping on Thursday and attended the launch and inauguration of three major water and energy projects in Central Luzon.
Water transmission
He went to Ipo Dam in Norzagaray, Bulacan in the morning for the unveiling ceremony of the Angat Water Transmission Improvement Project (AWTIP), which involves the construction of a new tunnel that will help improve the Angat reservoir’s 75-year-old raw water transmission system.
The current system’s condition poses a serious threat to the security of water for Metro Manila, Rizal, Bulacan and portions of Cavite, according to a Malacañang briefer. The problem may affect 14 million people.
READ: Aquino vows improved water supply for Bulacan
Article continues after this advertisementAquino was given a briefing by Gerardo Esquivel, administrator of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS).
Article continues after this advertisementIrrigation for Tarlac
In the afternoon, Aquino attended the launch of the Balog-Balog Multi-purpose Project (BBMP) in San Jose, Tarlac.
The BBMP is a project of the National Irrigation Administration and involves the construction of the Balog-Balog earth-fill dam at the upper part of Bulsa River. Irrigation canals and structures will also be built to benefit Tarlac City and the towns of Paniqui, Pura, Ramos, Victoria, Gerona, San Jose, Lapaz, Capas, Concepcion and Tarlac City.
In addition to irrigation, the dam will help in flood control and mitigation, as well as inland fish production. Potential power generation is at 43.5 megawatts.
The BBMP was first approved by former President Corazon Aquino. However, several irrigation canals and facilities were damaged by the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in 1991. It became a flagship project of then President Joseph Estrada and was continued under the present Aquino administration.
Phase II of the project aims to help boost Tarlac’s countryside development.
Solar energy
Later, Aquino will attend the inauguration of a 10-megawatt solar project in Brgy. Lourdes, Cabanatuan City in Nueva Ecija.
The solar farm will be connected to a substation of the Cabanatuan Electric Corporation (Celcor) and then to a National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) substation.
The project is being implemented by the First Cabanatuan Renewable Venture Inc., majority of which is owned by Filipino companies Trademaster Resources Corp. and First Cabanatuan Ventures Corp. Eight percent of the corporation is owned by the Chinese company Feng Yang.
The project costs P710 million and is expected to help reduce carbon emissions by 16,500 metric tons yearly or by 330,000 metric tons throughout the life of the project.
It also has a community development component, which involves the construction of a renewable energy learning center for students and the electrification of off-grid communities.
The AWTIP contract was awarded to Italy’s Cooperativa Muratori & Cementisti for P3.3 Billion. It will be funded through an Asian Development Bank loan. BBMP, on the other hand, costs P13.37 billion and will cover 34,410 hectares. It is expected to benefit 23,000 farmers. CDG/rga
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