The Freeman energy forum; avoiding carbon tax

As mentioned in this column last week, I attended The Freeman energy forum on the theme, "Powering Cebu," at Waterfront Hotel in Cebu IT Park.

- Bienvenido S. Oplas Jr.

The Freeman is a leading regional newspaper in Cebu and Central Visayas, and is part of the Philippine STAR Media Group.

The opening message was given by Miguel G. Belmonte, president and CEO of the Philippine STAR Media Group. He emphasized the economic dynamism of Cebu and the region, the fast demand in power and the challenge of significantly expanding energy infrastructure.

Department of Energy Assistant Secretary Mario Marasigan discussed the lineup of big wind power, onshore and offshore that are projected to provide big power supply into the future.

Niel Martin Modina, assistant vice president for Visayas System of National Grid Corp. of the Philippines, showed maps of new transmission lines dotting and connecting major economic corridors of Luzon, and between major islands of Visayas and Mindanao.

Engr. Raul Lucero, president and COO of Visayan Electric Co. (VECO) mentioned that the Philippine Energy Plan itself projected that peak demand in Visayas would leap from 2,464 megawatts in 2023 to 10,678 MW by 2050. The power situation in Cebu is critical to the economic fate of the Visayas as it is the connection hub of energy transfers from Luzon and Mindanao to reach the rest of the Visayas.

He then discussed their consumer app "MobileAP" that will "enable customers to track their electricity consumption, help raise their appreciation of the industry, and understand that they have a huge stake in the energy transition in the Visayas and the rest of the country."