(Mary Judaline Flores Partlow)
DUMAGUETE CITY – The Negros Oriental Chamber of Commerce and Industry has welcomed the additional baseload power secured by the province’s two electric cooperatives, saying the new supply could help address growing electricity demand.
NOCCI president Edward Du said the combined 5.2 megawatts allocated to Negros Oriental I Electric Cooperative and Negros Oriental II Electric Cooperative would provide immediate relief, although he cautioned that demand could rise further as more businesses invest in the province.
NORECO I will receive 1.6 MW, while NORECO II will get 3.6 MW under 15-year power supply agreements with First Gen.
The allocations form part of more than 24 MW of geothermal baseload power secured for 10 electric cooperatives in the Visayas through the National Electrification Administration’s Competitive Selection Process for the Luzon and Visayas Electric Cooperatives Aggregation.
The program consolidates the power requirements of 29 electric cooperatives to strengthen their negotiating position and secure more competitive rates and supply terms.
Du said the additional supply was a welcome short-term measure but stressed that further solutions would be needed to address broader power concerns in the Visayas and Mindanao.
He also urged NORECO II to address low-voltage issues raised by NOCCI and other local business groups, including the Negros Oriental Hotel Resort and Restaurant Association and the Negros Oriental Divers Association.
The power supply agreements cover 19 electric cooperatives in Luzon and 10 in the Visayas and involve six generation companies.