PRESIDENT Benigno S. Aquino III was the guest of honor of the inauguration of the PhP35 billion 300 megawatt base load power plant of AboitizPower Corporation’s Therma South Inc. last January 8 in Barangay Binugao, Toril. Therma South, a subsidiary of AboitizPower, is seen as a long-term solution to address the power crisis in Mindanao.
In his speech, he said that more than half of the energy supply in Mindanao is sourced from hydroelectric plants. However, in recent years, Mindanao has had very little energy surplus, resulting to rotating brownouts that stifled the region’s economy.
To address the energy crunch, his adminsitration came up with temporary measures including offering electric coopratives with the Mindanao Modular GenSets and Interruptible Load programs. Unfortunately, very few who availed of the program, Aquino admitted. Nevertheless, the government continued to encourage the private sector to make massive investments in energy in Mindanao.
Heeding the call, AboitizPower through Therma South decided to build a 200 MW coal-powered power plant, eventually increasing it to 300 MW. The plant is powered by the latest circulating fluidized bed combustion technology that minimizes emissions and delivers reliable and efficient power to the entire Davao Region, including Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Agusan, Surigao, and Zamboanga, and parts of Bukidnon and Misamis provinces. The new baseload power facility now provides a dependable balance to AboitixPower’s renewable energy generation.
In spite of this, Aquino said that the government continues to develop renewable energy and is doing its part in mitigating impacts of climate change.
“We have increased our usage of renewables, now making up 33% of our energy mix. Our nation’s carbon emissions are minimal compared to more industrialized countries. However, the situation in Mindanao has made it obvious that we are in dire need of baseload power. While I am a believer in developing renewables, we are still hounded by the questions: what if there’s no wind, if the clouds are overcast and the solar efficiency is down, if we do not have enough biomass? Unfortunately, right now, we cannot wean ourselves completely from relying on coal,” Aquino said.
He then thanked AboitizPower “for being an early believer in the potential of Mindanao”. With AboitizPower’s Therma South power plant, the 300 megawatt baseload power can be tapped anytime, rain or shine.
Meanwhile, AboitizPower chief operating officer Erramon Aboitiz assured stakeholders that they only bring in the most modern facilities and operate under the strictest environmental standards.
“The days of highly polluting coal plants were a thing of the past and would definitely not be tolerated under AboitizPower’s watch. Afterall, we have been a part of Davao and its growth for many decades – we would not do anything that was not good for Davao. When we designed this plant, we made sure we were also consistent with our responsibilities,” he said.
The power plant is part of AboitizPower’s goal in increasing their power capacity by 2,000 MW by 2020. Aside from ThermaSouth, AboitizPower has also commissioned about 55 MWs of run-of-river hydro in Davao and is currently building a 69 MW plant in Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon.
“AboitizPower is committed to support the Mindanao Energy Development Plan of the Department of Energy and the Mindanao Development Authority, which are both pushing for a balance of renewable and non-renewable sources of power for the region,” Aboitiz added.
ATF UPDATE: PHILIPPINES HOSTS ATF 2016. The Philippines will host the upcoming 2016 Association of Southeast Asian Nations Tourism Forum or ATF on January 18-23. The ATF is a collaborative effort designed to promote the region as a single tourist destination.
The annual event will once again gather ASEAN member countries to discuss innovations, trends, and developments in the tourism industry and facilitate joint policy formulations to accelerate the growth of the region’s tourism. This year’s theme is “One Community for Sustainability.”
“Playing host to the ATF for the fourth time is the perfect opportunity to show the new Philippines, which the international community alternatively calls, ‘Asia’s New Tiger’, ‘Asia’s Bright Spot’, and ‘The Next Asian Miracle’. The Philippines that first played host to ATF in 1987 and subsequently in 1998 and 2006 has gone far, and has now entered a new era marked by strong growth and potential,” tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr. said in the ATF website.
One of the highlights of this year’s ATF is the adoption of the ASEAN Tourism Strategic Plan 2016-2025 as spearheaded by the host country. This would work towards the development and growth of the region’s tourism as well as ensuring that this growth is grounded on responsible, sustainable, and inclusive tourism.
During the 5-day event, the ASEAN member states will also unveil the Southeast Asia Cruise Brand for 2016 and convene the biennial ASEAN Green Hotel Standards Award and the first ever ASEAN Homestay Award. ATF Philippines 2016 is fortunate to have in attendance international organizations such as the World Tourism Organization, World Travel and Tourism Council and ASEAN Region Employer to tackle Tourism Careers in ASEAN.
“ATF 2016 is a major turning point for Philippine tourism by bringing focus on several ‘treasure product’ innovations to suit newer markets and target groups,” added Jimenez.
Buyers are expected to participate in two full days of one-to-one appointments with industry international and local buyers, conduct business, and provide networking opportunities based on their specific business objectives. 400 international buyers from different parts of the world and 50 domestic buyers are expected to participate in this much awaited event in 2016.