DMCI adds 1.75MW off-grid Masbate power plants

THE OFF-GRID energy arm of engineering conglomerate DMCI Holdings has deployed two new satellite diesel plants to Masbate, adding 1.75 megawatts of combined power generation capacity to address power shortage in this island-province.

The two new facilities were set up by DMCI Power Corp. (DPC) in the municipalities of Cawayan and Balud in response to appeals made by the concerned local government units, the DMCI group said in a press statement on Wednesday.

Amid public clamor, the Masbate Electric Cooperative in turn appealed to DPC to address the problem by deploying new generating units. Prior to the installation of the two satellite plants, the areas experienced frequent brownouts due to tripping of the transmission lines and voltage problems.

“Quality of life in Masbate has significantly improved because of our partnership with the Maselco. There’s more economic activity and higher productivity because people have access to reliable electricity,” DPC president Nestor Dadivas said.

DPC was established in 2006 to provide sufficient and reliable electricity to areas that are not connected to the main transmission grid.

Aside from Masbate, the company also provides power to Palawan and Calapan, Oriental Mindoro through supply contracts with electric cooperatives. To date, DPC has a total contracted capacity of about 59 MWs.

In 2015, DPC contributed P382 million in net profit to the conglomerate, marking a 57 percent improvement from the previous year. The upsurge was attributed to the increased energy dispatch of its power plants in Palawan, Masbate and Oriental Mindoro.

This year, the off-grid power supplier plans to spend over P2.2 billion for power plant construction and equipment acquisition.

One of the oldest settlements in the Philippines, Masbate gained status as a separate province in 1920 by virtue of Commonwealth Act No. 2934. This province aspires to be a premier agriculture, fishery and eco-tourism hub by 2038. It pitches itself as the “Rodeo Capital of the Philippines” and is likewise famous for its beaches, Buntod Sandbar and Reef Marine Sanctuary.

The City of Masbate, the Provincial capital, serves as the main commercial center and the chief seaport. Being located at the central part of the Philippine archipelago, the city serves as Bicol Region’s gateway to Visayas and Mindanao provinces.