By Michael Punongbayan
MANILA, Philippines - The Department of
Agriculture (DA) will put up 40 mini-hydroelectric power plants in all
irrigation systems in the country to help ease the power crisis, particularly
in Mindanao, which is now suffering from rotating blackouts.
According to Agriculture Secretary Proceso
Alcala, over 100,000 houses are expected to benefit from the electricity that
will be generated from the power plants by December this year.
The National Irrigation Authority (NIA), a DA
agency, said the irrigation system could produce at least 20 megawatts of
electricity daily.
“This is the contribution of the DA and NIA
to ease the ongoing power crisis in the country,” NIA administrator Antonio
Nangel said.
He said his office has identified at least 79
sites or irrigation systems nationwide, including 20 in Luzon, 10 in the
Visayas, and 10 in Mindanao.
Nangel said each hydropower plant would only
cost P20 million and would be shouldered by local investors.
“The good thing here, we will be able to help
the energy crisis and at the same time the government will earn from it,” he
said.
By May next year, the DA and NIA are
targeting that all the 79 power plants in the irrigation canals will be able to
supply electricity in the country.
Alcala said his department is not only serious
in solving problems in agriculture, but is also willing to help in the power
problem.
“Under President Aquino’s administration, all
government agencies are one in helping solve the country’s problems,” he said.
Original Article here
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