Pagbilao, Quezon
(Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte led the inauguration of the newly completed 420-megawatt Pagbilao Unit 3 project coal-fired power plant here that is expected to stabilize energy supply in Luzon as well as boost the economy.
In his speech, President Duterte said that the opening of the Pagbilao Unit 3 plant will also provide employment and business opportunities to resident of Quezon province – even communist rebels should they decide to lay down their arms.
“The opening of this 420-megawatt plant will provide employment and business opportunities to residents of Quezon, including the NPAs should they decide to just drop their arms and stop fighting,” he said on Thursday, May 31.
During his speech, he even chided New People’s Army (NPA) rebels for spending so much on bullets, when the funds could have been given to poor Filipino families instead.
“You know, ang isang bala niyan would cost the government about P70. Mag-sige kayo away diyan bbbrrrrtttt. Ilang 70 ‘yun. Ilang bigas na ang mabili ko na para sa mga tao,” he said.
“You might not need it but the other Filipinos, 90 percent of our countrymen are really poor,” he said.
During the inauguration, President Duterte expressed his gratitude to the Department of Energy and Aboitiz Power Corp. for working together to make the Pagbilao energy venture possible.
“This event reaffirms not only the government’s commitment to empower our citizens into proactive agents of social transformation, but also the private sector’s crucial role in augmenting our local industries,” Duterte said.
“Without doubt, this joint venture between Aboitiz and [TeaM] Energy has ensured energy sustainability that will allow us to support the electric demands of the country. Your multiple investments across the archipelago surely bolsters our efforts in advancing the country’s development,” he explained.
Duterte stressed that the distribution of reliable and affordable electricity would complement government programs paving the way to national development.
He encouraged private energy producers to find viable solutions that will deliver reliable and inexpensive electricity to homes and industries.
He likewise hoped that private firms will introduce other technological advancements to produce clean energy.
“This administration has been clear about safeguarding our environment [for] future generations. We intend to have more compliant companies and power plants that prevent damage and reduce emission from harmful effects in the years to come,” he said.
A Malacanang release described the $976-million project as a joint venture between TPEC Holdings Corp. And Therma Power Inc., which are wholly owned subsidiaries of TeaM Energy Corp. (TEC) and Aboitiz Power, respectively.
The construction works for the Pagbilao Unit 3 started in December 2014. It is located near the Pagbilao Units 1 and 2 which have a total generating capacity of 735 megawatts.
The Pagbilao Energy Corp. signed an agreement to finance the construction the Pagbilao Unit 3, securing a total of P33 billion debt financing from various lenders.
Aside from securing steady supply of electricity to the Luzon grid, the Pagbilao Unit 3 project is also expected to generate multi-billion peso in taxes both for the local and national governments.
(with a PND report)