Medellin soon to have powerplant

CEBU, Philippines - A new power plant is soon to rise in the northern Cebu town of Medellin.

The project is expected to boost investments and spur economic development in the entire Cebu fourth district.

Cebu Fourth District Representative Benhur Salimbangon said that the Gokongwei-led Power Source company will soon be putting up a 17-megawatt coal-fired power plant in Medellin.

"Power Source Corp. and Cebu Electric Company II is now in process of finalizing the contract," said Salimbangon in an interview with The FREEMAN.

Salimbangon said that while he is for the development, they have to ensure that this new power plant will not harm the environment.

"Ang sa una gud nga mga coal-fired power plant, dili pa kaayo to mga modern but this power plant, high tech na man ni," said Salimbangon.

The congressman, who is now on his second term, said that there is a need to put up a power plant in the district in order to meet the power demand in the next three years considering that demand increases every year.

He said it will take about one to two years to construct a powerplant.

Salimbangon added that the power plant will be in a "Built-Operate-Transfer" and that Cebeco is not required to put up any capital for this project.

"This new power plant will guarantee our investors that we have available power," he said.

Currently, the town of Medellin has two golf courses, making it the "golfing capital of Cebu province." Another golf course will be put up in the town, Salimbangon said.

Aside from the international golf courses, there are also several tourist destinations in Medellin such as the Funtastic Island in Barangay Gibitngil that has drawn thousands of visitors.

Mayor Ricardo Ramirez had re-invented the image of the town from just being the "sugar bowl of Cebu" to being the "eco-tourism adventure capital of the north."  —(FREEMAN)