Government Moves To Ensure Benefits Of Continued Power Supply

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The Government, through the Inter-Agency Task Force on Securing Energy Facilities (IATFSEF), reinforces efforts for Mindanaoans to enjoy the benefits of reliable and continuous supply of electricity.

The IATFSEF fast-tracks resolution of the right-of-way (ROW) issues to strengthen collaboration among national agencies and law enforcers to facilitate restoration of transmission tower no. 25, which remains isolated since the rehabilitation crew is being denied access by the claimants/landowners. The situation has impeded Agus Hydroelectric Plant Units 1 & 2 from supplying about 80 megawatts of cheaper power to Mindanao consumers and providing reliable power supply reducing, if not eliminating, rotating brownouts.

Apart from the provision of inexpensive power from hydro, the IATFSEF is exhausting all means to immediately return the benefits of host communities from the sale of the electricity from Agus 1 & 2. Under the Energy Regulations 1-94, host communities of Power generating facilities are granted a share of P0.01/kWh of electricity sales to be used for projects that will uplift the living conditions of the communities.

If the transmission tower remains unrepaired, this will result in unutilized electric power generated from Agus 1 & 2, depriving people in affected areas of their entitlement to undertake potential projects; such as, electrification, livelihood, health benefits (i.e., ambulance, clinic equipment), social infrastructures (i.e., roads, sports court), and reforestation, among others.
Recognizing the significant benefits that the Mindanaoans are losing, the government calls on all concerned individuals and local government units for their utmost cooperation for the speedy rehabilitation of the damaged transmission tower and vigilance in preventing activities that threaten the security of energy facilities across the country, especially with the nearing national and local elections.

The IATFSEF is composed of the Department of Energy, as lead agency, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Department of the Interior and Local Government, the Department of Justice, the Department of National Defense, the Department of Public Works and Highways, Presidential Communications Operations Office, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Land Registration Authority, National Electrification Administration, National Intelligence Coordinating Agency, National Power Corporation, National Security Council, National Transmission Corporation, Philippine Information Agency, Philippine National Police, Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corporation, National Grid Corporation of the Philippines, the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, and Mindanao Development Authority.