Hydropower plant seen to solve Aklan's power woes
Kalibo, Aklan -- The province of Aklan is eyeing a long-term solution to the province' power shortage through the operation of a hydropower plant at Timbaban in Madalag, Aklan.
West Japan Engineering Consultants, said Governor Carlito S. Marquez, has already completed an updated feasibility study and the Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC) shall soon be filing an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
If fully realized, the Timbaban Hydropower Plant, a run-of-river type of power generation project, will have a maximum output of 29.1 MW, more power than Aklan and Boracay need, so there is a possibility of the plant supplying the power requirements of neighboring provinces.
Currently, however, the province is waiting for the enactment of a law exempting the Timbaban Area from the National Integrated Protected Areas Syastem (NIPAS) which Congressman Florencio T. MIraflores is soon to file as a bill first.
The province' bid for a sufficient and steady source of electricity is aimed at successfully attaining its objectives for agriculture and tourism which would reduce poverty through employment generation. With cheaper and sustainable power, said Governor Marquez, agriculture will be industrialized and factories and food/agricultural processing plants would be put up.
Presently, Mirant, a power supplier, has put up two plants in the province - one each in New Washington and Nabas, but the capacity is not enough to answer the needs of the whole province. (VGVillanueva/PIA-Aklan)