We are urging Energy Secretary Jose Rene Almendras to act now on service contracts granted by the Department of Energy before Negros Occidental loses serious investors in much- needed hydro electric plants, Jose Ma. Valencia, chief of staff of Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr., said yesterday.

The building of hydroelectric power plants in Negros Occidental has been stalled by service contracts granted for almost all the rivers in the province by the DOE to firms that have not even been seen in the province, he said.

Their service contracts have prevented serious investors in hydro electric power plants from conducting detailed engineering studies on Negros rivers, Valencia said.

“We were told that all these service contracts on the rivers of the province would expire on October 23 last year,” he said.

But when they checked with the DOE after October 23, they were told that the cancellation was not automatic and the holders have to be given due process, Valencia added.

He said the governor will try to meet with Almendras again to discuss the matter.

Targeted to be constructed are a 40-megawatt hydroelectric power plant in Bago City, a 15-megawatt plant in Carol-an, Kabankalan City, and a 12-megawatt cascading plant in Sagay City.

Officials of Conal Holdings, Alto Power Management Corp. and Alstom Philippines have expressed interest in constructing the hydro electric plants in Negros Occidental, the governor had said earlier.*CPG

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