Electricity providers for remote areas in Puerto Princesa sought

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Energy (DOE) has declared remote areas in Puerto Princesa City as open for the provision of electricity service by qualified third parties as mandated by the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001.

In a published notice, the DOE  said the Palawan Electric Cooperative Inc. (Paleco) has issued a board resolution declaring the city’s Sabang-Cabayugan area as unviable area.

Thus, the DOE is calling on interested parties including private entities, local government units, cooperatives and non-government organizations to submit proposals for the electrification of the Sabang-Cabayugan area.

Unviable areas refer to a geographical area within the franchise area of a distribution utility or cooperative where immediate extension of power distribution line is not feasible.

Qualified third parties (QTP) on the other hand, refer to an alternative electric service provider that meets the standards in and is chosen in accordance with the Department of Energy provisions.

The DOE said that Paleco, which has the franchise obligations over these remote and unviable areas, has received an unsolicited proposal and entered a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the City Government of Puerto Princesa and WEnergy Global Pte Ltd. last year to service power requirements in the area.

According to the DOE, the MOU aims to plan, design, build, operate and own a Solar PV power plant with a minimum installed capacity of 1 to 1.5 MW that will satisfy the current and future demands in Barangay Cabayugan, with an immediate focus on the area of Sitio Sabang, Barangay Cabayugan, Puerto Princesa, among others.