RAPID urbanization in Davao will likely put pressure on and possibly cause power shortages in the region, particularly in Davao City, where most of the developments in the next three years will occur, according to the Regional Development Council (RDC) of Region XI (Southern Mindanao).

With this, RDC vice chairman and National Economic and Development Authority regional director Nicasio Angelo Agustin said the RDC believes investments from the private sector are needed even if the government is already embarking on major projects that would bring power supply from Northern Mindanao to the Davao Region.

“Big private corporations are about to establish more malls, other consumer-oriented centers, business-process outsourcing facilities and condominiums here, particularly in Davao City. These additional facilities will likely put pressure on the region’s power supply,” Agustin said in a statement.

Agustin also said private-sector investments in energy supply and generation will not only ease pressure of the region’s power supply due to increasing economic activities, but also entice more investments in the region.

Apart from traditional power sources, the council is also encouraging tapping other energy sources, such as wind energy to supply the region’s power requirements. Agustin said the use of wind energy is being explored by the private sector and the government in Davao Oriental.

The RDC  XI vice chairman, however, said the government’s National Transmission Corp. in its report to the council has assured that with the completion in 2009 of the Maramag-Bunawan segment of its Abaga-Bunawan 230-kv transmission line project, the region would have additional power supply next year.

Once completed, the segment, which runs from Maramag, Bukidnon to Bunawan, Davao City, can be used to tap into the 385-MW Pulangi hydropower plant in Maramag and bring electricity to Davao Region.

“Transco is expected to fully complete the other segments of the transmission projects by 2011, which will allow more power supply from Northern Mindanao to flow to the region,” Agustin said.

Davao faces power shortage if private sector does not invest in next 3 years

RAPID urbanization in Davao will likely put pressure on and possibly cause power shortages in the region, particularly in Davao City, where most of the developments in the next three years will occur, according to the Regional Development Council (RDC) of Region XI (Southern Mindanao).

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