Lopez-led geothermal leader Energy Development Corporation (EDC) has begun providing 20-40 megawatts (MW) of temporary power and food assistance to Albay and Sorsogon today as part of its aid to the Bicol region that was devastated by Super Typhoon Rolly on November 01.
With full support from the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), EDC’s Bacon-Manito geothermal facility worked with Sorsogon I Electric Cooperative, Inc.(SORECO 1), Sorsogon II Electric Cooperative, Inc. (SORECO 2), Albay Electric Cooperative, Inc. (ALECO), and some of the larger commercial establishments in the two provinces to serve their power needs even if it currently has no power supply agreements with them.
“We express our deepest gratitude to NGCP for making it possible for us to energize our two host areas that have about 400,000 households and a population of about two million,” said Engr. Liberato S. Virata, senior vice president and head of EDC’s Facilities O&M Group.
The two provinces have been in the dark since the start of November due to damaged power facilities caused by Super Typhoon Rolly.
EDC is likewise providing over 2,300 sacks of rice to both provinces as well as in Catanduanes and in Camarines Sur. It is also distributing food packs and bread to severely affected families in Guinobatan, Albay in partnership with the Lopez Group Foundation, Inc.
“Through this initiative, we hope to help our local communities recover from the damages caused by Super Typhoon Rolly and from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic,” added Virata.
He likewise emphasized that this gesture is part of EDC and the Lopez group’s new mission of forging collaborative pathways for a decarbonized and regenerative future.
“Being regenerative means uplifting our stakeholders and the environment beyond compliance, especially in times of crisis,” Virata explained. “We all need to work together to help Bicol rise up again.”
EDC BacMan’s temporary power to Albay and Sorsogon will go back to its normal setup and operations once the NGCP grid line from Naga to Daraga has been restored and power is once again supplied from the Grid.
EDC, with its subsidiary BGI, operates the 140-MW Bacon-Manito geothermal facility that straddles between Manito, Albay and Bacon, Sorsogon and supplies clean and reliable power to the Luzon grid and to retail electricity customers. Its over 1,200MW installed geothermal capacity accounts for over 62% of the country’s total geothermal capacity.
