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THE
Department of Energy (DOE) recently appealed to members
of the New People’s Army (NPA) to help the Paris Manila
Technology Corp. (Pamatec) in its implementation and
installation of solar home systems under its Philippine
Rule Electrification Service (PRES).
“I know
that insurgents have been on the move against the
installation of the solar-panel systems. They want to
instill fear to the locals. Therefore, it is important
for them to work with the government and the project
proponents for them to reach their objectives and for us
to solve the peace-and-order concern here,” Energy
Secretary Angelo Reyes said.
The
energy chief noted that the introduction of electricity
to far-flung provinces is a way to bring about economic
progress and subsequently improve the peace-and-order
situation.
Reyes
and French Ambassador Gerard Chesnel, National Power
Corp. (Napocor) president Cyril del Callar and Pamatec
president Hubert D’Aboville convened with Gov. Elisa Kho
and the local officials of Masbate, the Philippine
National Police provincial director, and the Armed
Forces of the Philippines (AFP) brigade commander
regarding the peace-and-order situation in the PRES
project area.
The PRES
project, which aims to reach a total of 18,000
households, in 128 barangays, was borne from the
initiatives of ETDE; the Napocor, the French Consortium,
the Pamatec, through the DOE.
Chesnel
said the project is important to him that he had to
visit Masbate to promote the PRES.
“My
country has always been willing to conduct in developing
countries these programs which benefit the people. In
this respect, PRES project will undoubtedly help
Masbateños in their work and daily lives. France is
happy and proud to support it,” said Chesnel.
D’Aboville earlier told the resumption and completion of
French government-funded PRES will depend now on how the
Philippine government will react to damages on solar
home systems caused by members of the NPA.
“The
ball is now on the court of the Philippine government.
We wish they could address the issue at the soonest as
it hampers the installation of solar home systems in
some 18,000 households in Masbate,” d’Aboville said in a
one-on-one interview.
He also
expressed disappointment over recent incidents that seem
to stop them from implementing the PRES project. Recent
attacks have caused damage to P10 million worth of
equipment of Pamatec supposed to be used for the
project.
The
Pamatec official said he met with Energy Secretary
Angelo Reyes on Thursday morning, who immediately
coordinated with the Departments of National Defense and
of the Interior and Local Government, as well as with
the AFP to address the issue.
D’Aboville hinted that alleged members of the NPA sent
them a number of correspondence asking for a share on
the PRES project.
“With
the PRES [project] being a government-to-government
project, it would be difficult to give in to their
demands. Even if we could, we still would not since we
deem the PRES project would help uplift the quality of
life of the poorest of the poor in Masbate,” he added.
D’Aboville said the project is a development project
between the French and Philippine governments and is not
a business-to-business project. Pamatec is not selling
equipment, but is instead installing equipment to some
18,000 households that is paid by the French government.
D’Aboville said implementing the project, particularly
in the logistic side of the project, is already a
challenge, especially in transporting the equipment from
Cebu to Masbate and to the beneficiaries of the project
in different towns and municipalities in Masbate.
By the
end of the month, d’Aboville said, they should have
reached close to 4,000 households installed with solar
panels. He added that they should have completed the
project (installing solar panels to 18,000 households in
Masbate) by August next year. |
