MORE POWER. Officials in the province of Dinagat Islands welcome the arrival of Power Barge 116 of the National Power Corporation that will provide more electricity in the towns of Loreto and Tubajon on June 6, 2022. Governor-elect Nilo Demerey Jr. assured his administration will also work on the connection of the island province to the power grid in mainland Mindanao. (Photo courtesy of LGU Loreto)
BUTUAN CITY – Officials in Dinagat Islands province welcomed the recent arrival of a diesel power plant barge that will energize more areas of Loreto town and part of the neighboring Tubajon municipality.
In a statement Thursday, Nicolas Arcena, the acting diesel power plant head in the province, said Power Barge 116 of the National Power Corporation (NPC) arrived in Loreto on June 6.
“The power barge has the capacity of 1.3 megawatts and can supply electric power separately to the municipalities of Loreto and Tubajon,” Arcena said.
He said the power barge will fill in the low voltage of electric power provided by the Dinagat Diesel Power Plant. The power plant in the town of San Jose also supplies electric power to other areas of the province.
In an interview, Dinagat Islands governor-elect Nilo Demerey Jr. described the additional power source as "a big help in providing electricity to other areas of Loreto and Tubajon towns."
Demerey also assured the incoming administration will also work on the connection of the Dinagat Islands to the power grid in mainland Mindanao.
“The diesel power barge is too expensive, and we need to work to connect our island province to the power grid in mainland Mindanao,” Demerey said.
He said such an electric power connection is possible, as Siargao, the other island in the area, is already connected to the grid.
“Stable supply of power will spur our economic activities here, strengthen tourism, provide more job opportunities, and open our doors to investors,” Demerey said. (PNA)
