CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines - President Aquino suggested that the provinces of Camiguin and Davao del Sur could explore the possibilities of setting up windmill farms as a potential source of energy that ''will not only provide power supply, but will also boost tourism and local employment.''
This developed after the government expressed optimism that the newly-operational 42.5-megawatt hydroelectric power plant in Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur, reflects a concrete step in solving the power crisis in Mindanao.
Aquino made the suggestion after making a brief walkthrough at the P6 billion new power plant facility, where the President made the ceremonial switching-on of the generator to signal the operation of the Sibulan Hydroelectric Power Plant before the weekend.
The President said the hydroelectric plant is a clear indication of the private sector's urgent response to address the power situation in Mindanao.
He said the power plant, a greenfield project of the AboitizPower Corporation, is one of success outcomes of the creative and strategic collaboration between the government and the private sector.
He hoped that other companies could also venture into sustainable developments not just for the region but for the rest of the country.
On the part of the government, President Aquino said he had asked the Department of Energy (DoE) to create a long-term roadmap to maximize the use of other potential energy sources.
Surigao del Sur or Davao Oriental, he said, could maximize the use of solar panels ''to be freed from hours of blackouts.''
While another way of addressing power shortage, the President urged the collaboration of the local government units and the private sector to explore the creation of other mini hydropowerplant projects.
