PGMA to inspect geothermal project in Oriental Negros

Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is set to arrive in Oriental Negros on August 24 to inspect a 20-megawatt geothermal power project in Sitio Nasulo located in the hinterland barangay of Puhagan in Valencia town, some 35 kilometers away from the province's capital city of Dumaguete.

Costing about P1.7 million, the Nasulo geothermal project is seen to meet the projected growth in energy demand and supply stable electricity throughout the Visayas Grid.

This is to address the impending energy crisis resulting from the skyrocketing oil prices in the global market.

The Philippine National Oil Corporation's Palinpinon geothermal expansion project includes the development of the Nasulo power plant, which is the newest addition to the "seat of power" in the region, the Southern Negros Geothermal Production Field (SNGPF).

The Nasulo power plant now brings to four the total power plants providing indigenous, clean, renewable and reliable geothermal power in Western and Central Visayas.

Geothermal energy has earlier been found to be one of the more advantageous energy options in the country in terms of lesser greenhouse gas emissions, lower investment, high power plant reliability and renewability.

The President is also expected to grace two inaugural activities - the newly constructed P97.14 M-worth public market in Tanjay City with a total of 540 stalls and the newly completed Hall of Justice in Dumaguete City, which costs P86.4 M.

Two memoranda of agreement will likewise be inked before the President, namely: a memorandum of agreement (MOA) between the two governors of Negros Island, Oriental Governor George P. Arnaiz and Occidental Governor Joseph Marañon, and another agreement between the Philippine Ports Authority and Dumaguete City Mayor Agustin Perdices for the release of a P12M grant from PPA to complete the Flores Avenue Rehabilitation Project in the city.