GENERAL SANTOS CITY (28 July 2013) - Mayor Ronnel Rivera met with South Cotabato Electric Cooperative II (SOCOTECO II) general manager Engr. Rodolfo Ocat regarding prevailing power concerns that are affecting the city.
Together with City Administrator Atty. Arnel Zapatos, Rivera and Engr. Ocat discussed critical issues on power supplies and services that SOCOTECO II is facing.
Power interruptions have been considerably less since Mayor Rivera’s term began but brief and frequent power outages can still be observed.
Currently, National Power Corporation (NPC) supplies around 43MW out of its 52MW contract this year due to the reduced capacity of its hydroelectric plants in Bukidnon and Lanao del Norte.
SOCOTECO II through Engr. Ocat proposed different approaches to cope with the minimal power shortage such as proper power allocation and utilization, renewable energy sources and strengthening Private-Public Partnership (PPP) programs.
According to Rivera public and private sector linkage is necessary to generate enough resources for SOCOTECO II so that it will help in sustaining its operations and if necessary improve its facilities.
“Remedies must be done to guarantee that General Santos City is a haven for businesses to invest in and an abode to economic growth,” Rivera said.
The Rivera administration and SOCOTECO II also discussed the possibility of energy importation from sources aside from the NPC to achieve a sufficient power supply for the city.
At the end of the July 23 meeting, Mayor Rivera again reiterated his assurance to the SOCOTECO II management that the city will support future plans and projects of the coop if it would ensure a constant supply of energy to the city and its residents. (GENSAN INFO OFFICE/Ian John Lagare)
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