Former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief and now businessman Edgar Aglipay is planning to enter into a joint venture with a South Korean company in establishing renewable energy projects capable of generating 200 megawatts (MW) of power in Bohol amid the province’s continued lack of adequate inland power source, said his son Diwa Partylist Rep. Michael Aglipay.
Michael who along with Edgar visited Bohol Thursday and paid a courtesy call to Governor Arthur Yap at the Capitol said that his father aims to partner with a Korean firm to build two power plants—one solar-powered and one wind-powered, each capable of generating 100 MW.
“Kung papayagan ng mga opisyales, magka-wind power 100 MW and solar power, another 100 MW, so magko-conduct ng feasibility study hindi naman bigla-bigla yan. It will take siguro minimum six months ‘yung feasibility study,” Michael said.
Both Edgar and Yap held national posts during the Arroyo administration as PNP chief and Agriculture secretary, respectively. Edgar, who is also the DIWA chairman, now leads EMME Group of Companies which has businesses in the logistics, security and real estate industries.
Michael claimed that his father has already ventured into the power industry in Cagayan province and plans to do the same in Bohol in the future.
“Nagsuggest yung dad ko na may kaibigan na investor na Koreano nan aka-partner ng father ko…May business na siyang na-start sa province niya sa Cagayan na wind power and solar power na nagstart na yung construction, matatapos in two years,” he said.
Michael was made aware of Bohol’s power woes by Provincial Board members who they met during the Capitol visit, prompting them to share the business plan. While the proposal is apparently still in its initial stages, he clarified that the majority of the business will be owned by the South Korean firm, which he did not identify.
He also said that the plan is not set in stone and it will be the Koreans who will pitch the proposal.
“Actually majority yung mga South Koreans. Ang [role] namin jan is kami ang nagdala sakanila. Wala kaming intention to go to Bohol to make business, it’s just that the Board Members and si Vice Gov. [Rene Relampagos] sinasabi na yan ang problema, more than anything else, is yung presyo ng kuryente para sa taong bayan,” he added.
The Aglipays were primarily in Bohol for the DIWA Partylist’s membership drive in the province’s barangays.
Leopoldo Blanco Jr., the vice chairman and regional coordinator of Diwa Partylist said that they are conducting a massive campaign for membership and they need people in each barangay to lead their recruitment drive. (R. Tutas)