Vivant Energy Corp. set to proceed with the construction of two power plants

Vivant Energy Corp. has confirmed that its consortium Calamian Islands Power Corp. (CIPC) has begun the construction of two power plants in Palawan.

A 750-kilowatt diesel will be constructed in Busuanga, while an 8-megawatt bunker-fired power plant will be put up in Coron. The said facilities will supply power to the two towns.

“Both [facilities] will provide the full service and ancillary power requirements of Busuanga Island Electric Cooperative Inc. [Biselco] under a bilateral power-supply contract for the next 15 years from the plants’ commercial operation,” Vivant said. 

Biselco distributes electricity in the island-group that includes the municipalities of Coron, Busuanga, Culion and Linapacan in northern Palawan.

The commercial operation of both power plants is targeted in 2014.

State of emergency in Puerto Princesa due to power shortage

Puerto Princesa City in Palawan has been placed under a state of emergency after sufferig frequent brownouts that are adversely affecting business and tourism,

The City Council unanimously passed a resolution to this effect following quick deliberations during a special session called Thursday afternoon by City Mayor Edward Hagedorn.

“We are looking at a supply gap of about 12 months before the electric cooperative is able to find an additional supplier and to establish a new power facility. This will have tremendous negative impact on the economy, particularly tourism,” said city legal counsel Agustin Rocamora.

The city council noted complaints from residents, traders, and tourism-oriented business that the frequent brownouts have begun to affect many of the city's economy. Mayor Hagedorn said he may make a personal appeal to President Benigno Aquino III to address the problem.

Demand for electricity has faced rapid growth, fueled by tourism and a boom in the construction sector. Tourist arrivals in the capital has seen an unprecedented increase since February after the Puerto Princesa Underground River was adjudged one of the world’s seven new natural wonders during an Internet search launched by a Switzerland-based organization. The recent surge in power demand was also felt when Robinson's opened the biggest mall in the city in May, consuming at least 1 MW of power daily, along with other new hotels and business establishments.


The Palawan Electric Cooperative (Paleco), which distributes the main power supply for the mainland, launched late last year a bidding for a new 25-MW supply contract but the process was delayed by a two-month injunction by a local court after a bidder backed by a Korean group of renewable energy investors claimed that the bidding terms discriminated against potential renewable energy players. Power One Corp., had claimed that the cooperative’s decision to exclude the 12 percent value-added tax in the bid offers was disadvantageous to small  renewable energy providers like itself. The injunction was lifted late May, allowing Paleco to proceed with its bidding. Paleco had admitted that it would take at least 10 months before a new supplier could set up a plant and provide the much needed additional electricity.


Sources:

• http://www.gmanetwork.com/puerto-princesa-city-in-state-of-emergency-due-to-power-shortage 
• http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/224723/puerto-princesa-now-in-state-of-power-emergency

Cebu Pacific Air opens direct flight to Puerto Princesa from Davao

Cebu Pacific Air has opened a direct flight to Puerto Princesa from Davao-Kalibo. The flight costs P1,488 on Cebu Pacific's year-round "lite fare".

The new route is expected to start on August 2 and will operate 4 times a week, flying every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. It will be supported by the airline’s new Airbus 320 planes.

Cebu Pacific now flies to 32 domestic destinations, 54 domestic routes, 19 international destinations, 28 international routes, and operates more than 2,000 flights weekly. The airline flew 12 million passengers in 2011 alone. It also has the largest aircraft fleet in the Philippines today.

As part of its aircraft expansion, Cebu Pacific will soon have new Airbus A321neo (New Engine Option) aircrafts, a first for the Philippines, which the airline will use for its long-haul flights to destinations such as India, China and Australia.

During the media presentation event, Cebu Pacific also flew in Puerto Princesa tourism officer Rebecca Labit and Department of Tourism Western Visayas regional director Helen Catalbas, who also made a presentation about their respective destinations.

Palawan suffers from Internet outages

Most of the province of Palawan has experienced Internet outages since last Friday, an issue that still hasn't been resolved as of Monday.

The outage affects SMARTBRO subscribers who represent the vast majority of Internet users, specially in rural areas outside of Puerto Princesa where high-speed Internet access is a rarity.

Apparently a SMART communications tower located in Coron, that acts as a connection bridge to transport the signal coming from Makati in Manila, has been severely damaged during the last tropical storm. We weren't able to determine how long it would take them to repair it and reestablish the service.

The only possible way of connecting to the Internet in many areas of Palawan right now is by using a USB modem stick (aka 'dongle') sold mainly by telecommunications providers SMART and Globe, that connects to the 3G and GPRS/EDGE networks where available. Speeds however can be excruciatingly slow, specially during peak times.

Given the crucial role that the Internet plays in Palawan specially concerning tourism, any interruption in the service is bound to have very undesirable consequences. However, in spite of this recent outage the Internet service in Palawan in general has improved greatly over the past few years, although is still far from being as fast and reliable as in other urban areas of the country such as Manila or Cebu. The capital of Palawan, Puerto Princesa and some areas in the north near Coron are reported to have the best quality.


For more information about the different Internet Service Providers currently operating in Palawan visit the following addresses and links (valid as of May 2012):

• SMART Communications,
  NCCC Building, Lacao Street, Puerto Princesa
  http://smart.com.ph/
• PILTEL/PLDT,
  42 Roxas Street, Puerto Princesa
  http://www.pldt.com.ph/
• Globe Telecom,
  G7 & M7 Pacific Plaza Building, Rizal Avenue, Puerto Princesa
  http://www.globe.com.ph/
• Bayantel,
  Rizal Avenue, Puerto Princesa
  http://www.bayan.com.ph/
• Sun Cellular,
  Robinsons Place Palawan, Puerto Princesa
  http://www.suncellular.com.ph/

Puerto Princesa targeted by DPWH

It may take P17 billion worth of road and related projects to fully prop up the country’s tourism industry, according to a proposal from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

Public Works Secretary Rogelio L. Singson said in an interview that he and Tourism Secretary Mon Jimenez have talked about the road projects needed in key tourism areas all over the country.

“We are submitting P5 billion worth (of infrastructure projects) for 2012 and P12 billion for 2013 in support of the [tourism] master plan,” Singson said.

The economic development cluster of President Aquino’s Cabinet recently endorsed the tourism road map.

The Cabinet cluster is composed of the DPWH, National Economic and Development Authority, and the Departments of Tourism, Budget and Management, Science and Technology, Finance, Energy, Interior and Local Government, Agriculture, and Trade and Industry.

Singson identified some of the infrastructure projects included in the DPWH proposal.

“Road projects in Cebu and Bohol cost P1.2 billion. In Palawan, there are projects like the Coron-Busuanga and Taytay-El Nido roads which, together, cost P150 million,” he said. “Road projects in Puerto Princesa are estimated at P138 million. The roadwork in Sorsogon going to Donsol costs P150 million. There are also projects in Benguet province, Davao City, Cagayan de Oro City, Zamboanga and other areas.”

On his other role as “water czar,” Singson said he had submitted a proposal on the restructuring of functions and responsibilities of water-related agencies.

“It’s now being reviewed by the Office of the President,” he said.

Cebu, Tagbilaran and Puerto Princesa cities are among the tourism areas to be supported by infrastructure work under the government’s program alignment strategy, according to the DPWH website.

Source: 
http://business.inquirer.net/56807/dpwh-eyes-p17b-for-tourism-infra