Philippines: Energy department hits NPA for attack on hydro project

Philippines: Energy department hits NPA for attack on hydro project

THE energy department condemned on Tuesday, February 28, a New People's Army
(NPA) attack on a hydro-power plant project in Lumbayao village, Valencia
City, Bukidnon, last Saturday saying it will delay the facility's
completion.

"This attack is totally unwarranted considering that it is not a military
installation but a development project that seeks to contribute to uplifting
the socio-economic conditions of the people," said Department of Energy
(DOE) Secretary Alfonso Cusi in a statement the agency released to the media
Tuesday afternoon.

The attack, he said, will not only stall the project's construction
timeline, it will also set back efforts to improve the quality of life of
the people of Bukidnon.

The target date of commissioning is the first half of 2019.

"We are aiming to facilitate the development of all alternative and
indigenous energy supply for the future of Mindanaoans. We have long been
wanting our kababayans living there to feel the presence of progress, yet
these people are stealing that chance from them," Cusi said.

According to the Philippine Army's 4th Infantry Division, about 15 fully
armed NPA fighters entered the proposed 10.6-megawatt Pulanai hydroelectric
power plant site, confiscated the cellphones of workers, and fired several
shots after planting a couple of improvised explosive device (IEDs).

A team from the Explosive Ordnance Disposal of the 8th Infantry Battalion
was sent to go after the insurgents to disarm and recover the IEDs.

"The National Democratic Front has been urging the Duterte Administration to
resume the peace talks but NPA attacks on a development project such as this
do not inspire confidence that they are sincere in returning to the
negotiating table," Cusi said.

Last December, President Rodrigo Duterte personally visited the site to
grace the power plant's groundbreaking and in his speech pleaded with the
NPA to spare the project from the attacks.

The President said the Pulanai plant, owned and operated by Repower Energy
Development Corp., one of the power generation facilities seen to boost the
economic activity in the area.

To ensure the completion of the project despite the attack, an Inter-agency
Task Force in Securing Energy Facilities was activated comprising the DOE,
Philippine National Police, National Grid Corporation of the Philippines,
Armed Forces of the Philippines, National Transmission Corporation, National
Electrification Administration, and the National Power Corporation.

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Link to Original Article:
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cagayan-de-oro/local-news/2017/02/28/energy-depart
ment-hits-npa-attack-hydro-project-528432

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John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.

www.aptthailand.com