Sun.Star Davao

TSI SUSPENDS POWER SUPPLY TO DANECO

The electric cooperativ­e owes its suppliers over P2 billion; more than P200 million of it is owed to a baseload power plant in Toril

- BY REUEL JOHN F. LUMAWAG / EIC

Therma South Inc. (TSI), a subsidiary of AboitizPow­er, have suspended the delivery of power to the Davao del Norte Electric Cooperativ­e (Daneco) after the electric cooperativ­e was not able to pay its unpaid obligation­s.

Mario Angelo Sotto, co-chair- person of Task Force Duterte-Northern Davao Power, the team that is now operating Daneco, told SunStar Davao in a phone interview that they have incurred over P2 billion of debt from its power suppliers.

Of the P2 billion debt, Daneco owes TSI around P256 million as of September 2018. This also includes penalties dating back to 2016, as well as interests.

Sotto said TSI sent them a letter of disconnect­ion on August 2018 giving Daneco a week to settle its obligation­s.

On September 1, 2018, the power generator suspended its delivery of power to Daneco. The electric cooperativ­e is getting 15 megawatts (MW) from the 300 MW Baseload Power Plant located at the borders of Davao City and Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur.

“The company has stated that it will only resume delivery of power once all outstandin­g obligation­s including the required security deposit are paid and covered,” TSI said in a statement.

“As much as we want to help provide power to the member consumers of Daneco, we also have to make sure that our capability to serve our other customers in Mindanao is not affected,” AboitizPow­er AVP Benedick M. Salvador said in a statement.

Despite losing 15 MW, Sotto assured that there will be no rotational brownouts in the areas they are serving. He said other suppliers were able to fill in the needed power supply that was lost.

He said they have a peak demand of around 90 MW to 120 MW and their supply is still enough to meet the demand.

The Universal Health Care bycam, hopefully by November 19 we will ratify it and we will forward both bills to the President upon ratificati­on. Ang target [is] December it will [be] signed into law by the President.

Senator

JOSEPH VICTOR G. EJERCITO

Senate Committee on Health and Demography chair

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