CEBU, Philippines — Residents of Bantayan Island in northern Cebu would soon experience a sustainable power supply following the commitment of a new power producer to provide a 24-megawatt power plant in the island.
In a report of Sugbo News, the Capitol news website, the Isla Norte Energy Corporation (INEC), a subsidiary of Vivant Corporation, is set to provide a 24-MW power supply to Bantayan Electric Cooperative (BANELCO) - the power distributor of Bantayan Island.
“Grabe ang nasinati nga brownout sa Bantayan Island, so magpasalamat ko sa Vivant Corporation for its 17-megawatt power plant with seven megawatts reserve. Nagsugod na ang construction, so that’s a total of 24-MW,” said Fourth District Board Member Horacio Paul Franco.
Franco believed that this development will create a huge impact in the tourism industry as well, following the recent reboot of the tourism-related activities and the 1.2- kilometer airport runway that is scheduled to open on December this year.
“Sa pagbukas sa airport, daku kaayo na og impact sa tourism. I mean dili pa seguro karon kay naa pa may challenges sa pagbiyahe, but moving forward, at least dili na gyud makuwangan og power ang Bantayan Island,” Franco said.
Vivant Corporation, through its subsidiary, is set to lessen the intermittent power outages in the island by meeting the power requirements of seven megawatts during peak hours.
With its corporate social responsibility (CSR) program, it has provided three one-megawatt generator sets to offset the frequent power interruptions being experienced in the island.
Franco shared that prior to this, it has also donated a 50-kilowatt-peak (kWp) solar power system worth P4 million to Hilutungan Integrated School in the west of Bantayan town two years ago.
He said it also started its assistance in the town by donating a high-speed copying machine, inkjet toner, and 230 reams of bond paper for the reproduction of learning modules for students in Hilutungan.
Vivant Corporation, a Cebuano company, supports the agenda of the Cebu provincial government in the reopening of tourism-related activities to revive the local economy that has been affected by quarantine restrictions brought about by COVID-19. — GMR (FREEMAN)