By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

During yesterday’s Negros Occidental Provincial Board Committee on Energy hearing, Board Member Manuel Frederick Ko, who chaired the meeting, revealed 70 percent of the power demand in the province is generated through “conventional sources or coal.”

He pointed out, power is mostly sourced from power plants in Cebu and Iloilo, while the rest is generated from geothermal plants and the wholesale electricity spot market, where energy suppliers bid to provide power.

The hearing was held in response to Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon, Jr. expressing his opposition to the proposed coal-fired power plant in San Carlos City.

“We will still hold public hearings, inviting representatives from the Department of Energy, National Grid Corporation of the Philippines, the church, and groups opposing the coal-fired plant,” Ko explained.

Earlier this month, the governor affirmed his position opposing the power plant.

“This [has been] one of our advocacies for a long time,” he stated. “My [stance] is non-negotiable.”

The governor also lauded the four dioceses in Negros for taking the same position.

Meanwhile, Negros Occidental Vice Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said he is “open to the idea,” pointing out, the proposal should be thoroughly studied first since the San Carlos City Sangguniang Panlungsod released a resolution approving the proposed project./DGB, WDJ