CALAPAN CITY, Oriental Mindoro (PIA) -- This year’s Dagyaw ‘Tarabidan sa Palawan’ Town Hall Meeting was held on November 29 at the City Coliseum, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan with the cooperation of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Mimaropa, Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Mimaropa, Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Mimaropa, Civil Society Organizations and other government agencies with its theme “Usapang Enerhiya: Brownout at ang potensyal na benepisyo ng Renewable Energy”.

In his speech, DILG Mimaropa Regional Director Karl Caesar Rimando said that the main purpose of the activity is for the government and citizens to come together and grow their trust in each other through an open, unbiased and safe space for dialogue or conversation regarding the local and national issues we face today.

In the program, Engr. Isak Jonathan V. Villanueva, OIC-Renewable Energy Development Division of the National Electrification Administration (NEA) said that the purpose of NEA is to light up rural areas sustainably through the use of renewable energy such as solar energy, geothermal, wind and sea.

“It is important because today's electricity in the country depends on the fuel "coal" that’s why electricity is expensive and only a little comes from renewable energy sources,” said Villanueva.

Moreover, Villanueva said that the Electric Cooperative (EC)-owned Renewable Energy Embedded Generation Facility owned by cooperative that uses renewable energy to create electricity that is directly placed in the distribution system of the electric cooperatives is expected to be done next year which will bring good quality and cost-efficient electricity.

Engineer Larry I. Sabelina, Vice President of Small Power Utilities Group (SPUG) of the National Power Corporation (NAPOCOR) presented ‘Power Supply and Demand’ in each province of the region. Sabelina also laid down reasons for the flow of electricity as well as Napocor’s plans for 2023 such as the installation of ten (10) diesel power plants in Northern and Southern Palawan so that those who have not reached power supply will be able to get it.

On the other hand, Engineer Rogelio G. Baylon of the Palawan Electric Cooperative (PALECO) specified recommended short-term and long-term solutions to the electricity problem in the province of Palawan.

Among the Paleco’s plans are the conduct of regular thermal scanning, use of insulated wires, installation of 2x25 MVA 69/13.8kV in the poblacion area of ​​Puerto Princesa City next year and some other substations.

Baylon said that they also have a renewable energy project, which have just been awarded 20MV power to SI Power Corporation for the Palawan Main Grid where a combination of solar and conventional energy will be used. He also assured that they are doing everything possible to avoid unexpected power outages.

At the end the participants had the opportunity to ask questions to the invited guests. Narra Mayor Gerandy Danao, members of various Sangguniang Bayan, Barangay officials in Puerto Princesa City and Palawan Province, representatives from the Palawan Provincial Government and Municipal Government and other agencies also attended the event. government.

This is the 4th edition of Dagyaw in MIMAROPA and about 300 participants joined on-site and aired virtually through the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) MIMAROPA Facebook page, DILG MIMAROPA and other government partner agencies. (GATS/PIA MIMAROPA)