VIRAC, Catanduanes—At least three mini hydro- electric power plants are being developed here to become a source of power supply on this 11-town island province.

Having the most erratic, inadequate and unreliable supply of electricity for several decades now, the First Catanduanes Electric Cooperative (Ficelco) has signed an energy-supply agreement with Sunwest Water and Electric Co. (Suweco).

The energy-supply agreement was ratified by the Ficelco board of directors in May 2007, said Ficelco president Rollie Canada.

Canada said that with hydroelectric power as a source of electricity, Catanduanes residents can expect reliable power supply and at a cheaper rate, too.

According to documents obtained by the BusinessMirror, all is set for the operations of the three mini hydroelectric power plants by 2010, barring unforeseen circumstances.

Manny Vergel, consultant for Suweco, said the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) had already conducted its hearing in the province two weeks ago on the hydropower projects after Suweco had complied with nine major requirements, starting with the endorsements of local officials involved.

The mini hydro projects got the support of two Bicolano senators—Joker Arroyo and Gringo Honasan—and the three former provincial governors of Catanduanes who lobbied for the projects during their terms.

Former governor Leandro Verceles Jr. said the long-time dream of Catandunganons to have a stable and cheap electric rate will soon be realized. He said the projects are in consonance with Republic Act 7156, known as the Mini-Hydroelectric Power Incentive Act of 1989.

According to Rizaldy Co, president and chief executive officer of the Sunwest Group of Companies, Suweco has already infused closed to a billion peso in the development of the three projects in Catanduanes located at Solong, San Miguel town; Hitoman, 1 and 11 at Caamoran town. 

PROJECT delays have caused a drop in the funds disbursed by funding agencies for government projects under official development assistance (ODA) from January to December last year, according to the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda).

POULTRY raisers are still awaiting the release of the new rules covering the importation of chicken under the minimum access volume (MAV) scheme.

TO boost tourism even in secluded corners of the country, the government is now dangling full incentives to hotel accommodations to be put up in far-flung areas that are frequented by tourists no matter how small they are.

SORSOGON CITY—Behind the picturesque scenery of the coastal municipality of Donsol, Sorsogon, that has captured international attention owing to the name it has earned as the “Whale Shark Capital of the World” is a grim picture of poverty, statistics show.

SEAWEED processors belonging to the Seaweed Industry Association of the Philippines (SIAP) are urging the Philippine government, particularly the Department of Agriculture (DA), to lobby for the inclusion of carageenan in the generalized system of preferences (GSP) program of the US government.

VIRAC, Catanduanes—At least three mini hydro- electric power plants are being developed here to become a source of power supply on this 11-town island province.