Nation

Maguindanao gov't officials eye renewable energy

Philstar.com

July 24, 2016 | 5:12pm

MAGUINDANAO — Local officials in the first district of Maguindanao want to harness sources of renewable energy in their towns after the launching of a biomass power plant in Buluan town by President Rodrigo Duterte last Friday.

Maguindanao first district Rep. Sandra Sema on Sunday said she would enlist the help of experts to do feasibility studies on the viability of putting up mini-hydroelectric plants in the municipalities of Datu Odin Sinsuat, Datu Blah Sinsuat and North Upi.

Sema said the mayors in the three towns and their constituent barangay officials were inspired with how the family of Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu and a Chinese firm, the Green Earth Enersource Corp., had jointly established a 4.5-megawatt biomass power plant in Buluan.

Located in the second district of Maguindanao, Buluan, a booming agricultural town, is the new capital of the province.

The power facility will operate using only biodegradable wastes from oil palm plantations in Maguindanao’s adjoining Buluan, Pandag, Paglat, Datu Paglas and S.K. Pendatun towns.

“We are certain President Duterte will not let us down if we ask for his help to provide all needed support for us to have mini-hydroelectric plants in our district,” Sema said.

The Datu Odin Sinsuat, Datu Blah Sinsuat and North Upi towns all have mountain ranges covered with forests where about a dozen rivers flow downstream to the Moro Gulf and the northwestern side of the 220,000-hectare Liguasan Delta.

Duterte, accompanied to Buluan town on Friday by Secretary Alfonso Cusi of the Department of Energy (DOE), said, in a dialogue with local officials, he would focus on various programs meant to hasten the restoration of normalcy in conflict-stricken areas in Maguindanao.

“Now is the time for us to make good in working with Malacañang towards that goal. If we can energize agricultural areas with renewable, environment-friendly facilities, productivity of farmers will improve tremendously,” Sema said.

Sema said they would ask Mangudadatu to help link them up with potential sponsors for the establishment of mini-hydroelectric plants in the first district of Maguindanao.

“Our governor has friends in the business communities abroad. He can help us,” Sema said.

Duterte, while in Buluan, lauded Maguindanao's ruling Mangudadatu clan and its constituent local officials for helping him win in the province with an overwhelming vote lead in the May 9 presidential race.

The rivers that can be tapped for hydro-energy in the first district of Maguindanao are the Tubuan, Tambak and Kinimi rivers in Datu Blah Sinsuat and at least three others that spring from watershed areas in Datu Odin Sinsuat and North Upi.

Sema said she would request the central office of the DOE to help the local government units in the three towns study how to viably pursue their plan to develop mini-hydroelectric plants.