Guimaras power plant project: step towardsPGMA's development agenda

Jordan, Guimaras—The ceremonial switching on of the Guimaras Power Plant Project last week signalled the realization of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's goals of encouraging the private sector to support her agenda for job creation and provision of electricity in the barangays.

The Guimaras Bunker C-Fired Power Plant in San Miguel, Jordan Guimaras, operated by the Trans-Asia Oil and Energy Development Corporation, is initially employing 16 people, six of which come from Guimaras itself.

Trans-Asia Executive Vice President Dr. Francis Viray said that with more stable supply of power in the province more economic activities will be encouraged that could lead to employment opportunities.

President Arroyo's 5 th agendum of providing electricity in barangays nationwide is also being realized with the plant's capacity to provide more reliable and better voltage quality power to some 141 thousand population of the 5 municipalities in Guimaras.

The operation of the power plant is particularly significant for Guimaras as it marks the end of the province's total dependence on power supplied through the submarine cable and lesser frequency and occurrence of brownouts, besides the fact that it also answers the need for generation capacity in the Visayas specifically in Panay island.

Under the Department of Energy (DOE) Resolution 1-94 it is provided that host communities in the rural electrification or power plant operation should become recipients of direct financial benefits.

The Trans-Asia Oil and Energy Development Corporation sells electricity to the Guimaras Electric Cooperative, Inc (GUIMELCO) through an Electricity Supply Agreement (ESA) signed last November 12, 2003 and operates on a Build-Operate-Own scheme.

Trans-Asia Oil is the energy arm of the PHINMA Group which undertakes development of new energy projects, which also focuses on shelter, education, medical and financial services. (PIA/ESS)