P1.1-B power projects to energize Samal

POWER facilities amounting to more than P1 billion were inaugurated to energize Samal Island, the National Electrification Administration ( NEA) said Wednesday.

In an issued statement, it said the Davao del Norte Electric Cooperative Inc. broke ground on three projects related to a submarine cable connection worth P1.108 billion hoping to enhance energy supply on the said island.

The projects are the 69- kiloVolt ( kV) overhead subtransmission line for a submarine cable connection, the installation of the 72- kV submarine cable and the 20- megaVoltamperes ( MVA) substation on Samal Island.

According to the NEA, the submarine cable will reach 11.5 kilometers from Pantukan, Compostela Valley to Aundanao, Peñaplata in Island Garden City of Samal ( Igacos). The 20 MVA substation to be built in Peñaplata, meanwhile, will support the growing power demand of Samal Island.

NEA Administrator Edgardo Masongsong said economic and tourism growth on the island is expected once the projects are completed.

“The projection in the next five years, the power demand on Samal Island alone is expected to reach 35- megawatt ( MW) from the existing 10 MW,” he said.

“We are looking forward for a reliable service, efficient system, and hopefully, affordable electricity rate, if not cheap. This will realize economic and social development for all the constituents of the two provinces of Davao del Norte and Davao de Oro,” Masongsong added.

The funding for the projects would be financed by the Bank of Commerce, a subsidiary of San Miguel Corp.