CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA)–The Northern Mindanao Regional Development Council Infrastructure and Utilities Development Committee (RDC-10 InfraCom) endorsed the proposed rehabilitation and modernization of the Agus-Pulangi Hydropower Complex (APHC) under Phase 1 series of projects to the RDC-10 Full Council during its Fourth Quarter 2021 meeting, November 16 via Zoom web conferencing.
The estimated project cost is P10.287 billion. The proposed projects will be implemented starting in January 2022 until June 2026.
The APHC, located in Mindanao, consists of seven hydropower plants (HPP) with a total installed capacity of 1,001.1 megawatts. Six of these HPPs are located in Agus River and one HPP in Pulangi River. The existing plants have a life range of 35-50 years.
Rehabilitating the APHC is expected to enhance the reliability of clean energy generation in Mindanao, extending its economic life for another to 30-40 years, and ensuring the operational safety and reliability of said plants. The proposed project supports Republic Act 9513 or the Renewable Act of 2008. It is also identified as part of the region’s high-impact catalytic projects.
Moreover, InfraCom supported the Fiscal Year 2023 Annual Investment Program (AIP) of the infrastructure sector agencies in Region 10. The FY 2023 AIP is one of the primary bases in the preparation of the FY 2023 regional budget proposals of concerned agencies for funding by the national government. The estimated total FY 2023 investment requirement of the infrastructure sector is P32.23 billion, covering 217 priority programs, projects, and activities.
The Cagayan de Oro Water District (COWD) reported updates of its repair and rehabilitation activities in its area of coverage. The InfraCom requested the COWD to improve on its crisis communications, utilizing quad media to provide real-time updates on schedules of repairs, cause of service interruptions, among others, to its water consumers. (NEDA-10/PIA-10)
