BUGUIAS, Benguet – The Benguet Electric Cooperative–Power Generations Department (BENECO-PGOD) reported that the ongoing construction of the 3-megawatt Man-Asoc minihydro project is more than 54 percent complete as of January 31, 2020.
In his report to BENECO general manager Gerardo P. Verzosa and assistant general manager Engr. Melchor S. Licoben, project supervisor Artemio Bacoco disclosed that the overall financial status of the electric cooperative’s accomplishment is equivalent to P142.69 million which is less than 30 percent of the total project cost of P450 million.
Based on the detailed report that was duly noted by PGOD department manager Engr. Ricardo S. Pallogan, the weir structure had an accomplishment of 75.50 percent, dessander – 96.11 percent, headrace – 11.60 percent, surge tank/penstock – 3.11 percent and power house – 87.2 percent.
Earlier, BENECO ventured on the put up of the 3-megawatt minihydro project as part of the electric cooperative’s strategy to sustain the low cost of quality power being delivered to its increasing number of consumers pursuant to the provisions of the electric Power Industry Reform Act and the Renewable Energy Act.
Verzosa asserted the importance of having existing sources of renewable energy to help the electric cooperative provide for the power demands of the increasing number of consumers considering that it will translate to cheap and clean energy once the capital for the put up of the said power plant shall have been paid.
Under BENECO’s model for the put up of the Man-asoc minihydro power plant, the electric cooperative and the community through the indigenous peoples organization will co-own the power facility starting on the 26th year once the agreement shall be renewed.
He pointed out that electric cooperatives with established sources of renewable energy which they own have a better advantage in thwarting possible takeover by private power distribution companies considering their ability to sustain low power cost to their consumers.
Aside from its minihydro project in Man-Asoc, BENECO is also eying the put up of a 10megawatt hydro power plant in Kabayan town.
On the other hand, BENECO also plans to put up a 1-meagwatt solar power farm in Tuba town as part of its effort to seek other sustainable sources of renewable energy within its franchise area to make the electric cooperative highly competitive in power cost charged to its consumers because of the presence of renewable energy sources that maintain such lower power cost.
BENECO is one of the rural electric cooperatives that charge its consumers with one of the cheapest power rate that is even lower compared to the power rates of private power distribution companies that have much wider scope and are much bigger compared to its existing number of consumers aside from having to provide cheap and quality power to existing non-viable areas within its franchise area thereby adhering to the rural electrification program of the government undertaken through the energy department and the National Electrification Administration (NEA) that has overall supervision over electric cooperatives.
By HENT