LET THERE BE LIGHT. Two policemen prepare to raise the Philippine flag on Barangay Pag-asa Island in Kalayaan town, West Philippines Sea in this file photo. The National Power Corporation has pledged to give two units of power generator to supply the village for eight hours of electricity daily. (Photo by CARF)
PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan -- Barangay Pag-asa Island in the disputed West Philippine Sea will soon have longer power supply service following the National Power Corporation's (Napocor) commitment to provide two units of electric generator to the Kalayaan municipality.
Through the efforts of 1st Palawan District Rep. Franz “Chicoy” Alvarez, Napocor has agreed to donate to the remote town’s municipal government two units of 150 kilo-volt-ampere (KVA) generating sets (gensets).
Kalayaan Mayor Roberto del Mundo said Thursday that technical representatives from Napocor in Manila will fly to Pag-asa in April to do location and population validation surveys.
“They will go to Pag-asa Island to determine if the specifications of the generating sets are enough to cover the whole barangay, or if there is a need to upgrade or downgrade the 150 KVA,” he said.
Pag-asa, which has around 45 households composed of 150 residents, only relies on a 75 KVA generator that provides power supply from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. or four hours a day.
He said the Napocor gensets, whose donation was made possible by Rep. Alvarez, would be able to provide electricity for up to eight hours daily.
The Napocor will include in the donation package the putting up of distribution lines, while the municipal government will provide the meters to each household, Del Mundo said.
“Eventually, it will become income-generating for us, which would extremely be helpful,” said Del Mundo, adding that they only rely on their PHP72-million annual internal revenue allotment (IRA).
With this more stable power source, Del Mundo expects it would attract investors, especially in the fishing industry, to consider bringing economic development to Kalayaan town.
He said the seas surrounding the town offer rich fishing grounds. (PNA)
