By Richel Umel/PNA
BACOLOD, Lanao del Norte–The provincial government here has commenced its private-partnership venture with Liangan Power Corporation for the PHP2 billion 11-megawatt Liangan Hydroelectric Power Plant Project.
The groundbreaking on November 6 signaled the start of the partnership between the Liangan Power Corporation, the Lanao del Norte provincial government and the municipality of Bacolod, where the power plant will be built.
Gov. Imelda Quibranza-Dimaporo on Friday said she was elated with the start of the project, which took over decades to materialize.
“The long wait is over after three decades of tedious process,” Dimaporo said.
In addition to the construction of the power plant, the governor said road concreting projects will also begin simultaneously.
She pointed out that road concreting is a major component of the power plant project, which will improve the road network that connects Lanao del Norte towns to Lanao del Sur.
The governor’s son, first district Rep. Mohammad Khalid Dimaporo said the power plant project aims to improve “the socio-economic stability among Muslim and Christian” communities in the province.
Dimaporo said residents can also expect reduced electricity rates in the province once it is completed.
Mario Marasigan, director of the Electric Power Industry Management Bureau of the Department of Energy (DOE), lauded local officials in “preserving and keeping this vision in developing renewable resources.”
“The 11.9-megawatt project can amply provide the supply of power resources for the growing demand of the Lanao del Norte,” Marasigan added.
The DOE official also challenged the Lanao del Norte Electric Cooperative (LANECO) “to make sure that this project is among the components of your distribution development plan.”
Josue Lapitan, president and chief executive officer of Liangan Power Corporation, said the power plant will be constructed by Guangxi Hydroelectric Construction Bureau of China.
“The project will start by the first quarter of 2019 after the release of the notice to proceed,” Lapitan said, adding that the project is expected to be completed in two years time.
