On the road to progress

We are definitely on the road to progress and to see them all at once plastered on the front pages of our local dailies is a sign that Bacolod Negros Occidental are definitely booming.

Two power companies are set to start construction within the year which is expected to generate lots of jobs and spur our local economy. It is also an indication that demand for power is there presumably because of all the developments happening all around our city and the province.

Perhaps the Ceneco board will now have an option to buy power from these companies which is right in our midst and which from the start has been transparent on their reliability rather than continue to favor Energreen that has failed to deliver power up to now.

The solar power plant in Barangay Felisa is a welcome development and being a green energy, it will not harm our environment and does not pose any hazard to its surrounding communities. I hope our power utilities firm will favor this form of energy over other power providers.

In fact, bringing this kind of energy to our province and our country is long overdue. As a tropical country with heat bordering on the dangerous zone particularly during summertime, we could have explored solar energy a long time ago.

However, since it was basically new technology then and setting up these solar plants require a huge capitalization, independent power companies have opted for oil or coal which are not a cheaper source but which are readily available. And the fact that cost is passed on to consumers it was the easier route to take.

But because of climate change, the eventual dwindling of oil and coal, and the call from environmentalists to prioritize green energy, these cleaner forms of power has become popular.

My daughter showed me pictures taken in other countries where houses and even hospitals have solar panels and although installation is quite expensive, you will eventually be able to save in the long run.

In Cadiz City, they will also start construction of the coal fired power plant there plus solar and wind power in the near future making their city the power capital of the province.

Of course coal fired power plant may not be acceptable to environmentalists but through the years, they have improved their safety nets ensuring that it will not be hazardous to the community.

If you look at the coal fired power plant along the port of Iloilo, you will be amazed at how clean and efficient that plant has become. That one was started by my good friend, Art Aguilar, although I am not sure if he is still connected there.

With all these power companies sprouting up in our province, our power utilities will not have an excuse to be held hostage by a single power provider and will have varied choices.

We were discussing just a month ago the influx of commercial centers here starting with the expansion of SM and Robinsons, now with Ayala, then two City Malls, the Megaworld and just yesterday the second branch of Puregold.

These power plants will definitely have a market once all these malls start operating. I still hope we prioritize green energy.

Meanwhile, kudos to Rep. Albee Benitez for the passage of the Sugarcane Law that will strengthen the competitiveness, efficiency and diversification of our sugar industry. This is long overdue and thanks to Albee who had the foresight to author this one and ensure its passage before the President steps down.

Of course we all know Albee's influence on the President which is perhaps why this law was passed this fast compared to other bills that took decades and various presidents before it can even be signed into a law.

I just hope the P2 billion will be put to good use to really help our small farmers be sustainable particularly now that the AFTA is in place. This is one law that really understands the industry's needs and hopefully we will get the same response in our appeal to stop the extension of CARP and rather concentrate in providing support and technical services to our farmers.*

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