The Bohol Electric Cooperative (BOHECO) II expressed its continued interest in having a hydropower plant established for its service area to provide additional power supply for consumers particularly during emergency situations.

According to BOHECO II manager Engr. Eugene Tan, the Department of Energy (DOE) already surveyed areas which were considered as possible sites for the facility.

The DOE pinpointed dams in Garcia Hernandez, Pilar and Jagna as possible energy sources for the hydropower plant, said Tan.

“Sa pagkakaron amo na ng gisukod-sukod ang iyang flow kay duna may mga measurement nga posibli ba nga mahimong hydro [power],” he added.

Should feasibility study of the project start soon, Tan projected that the facility will be completed in three years.

Based on initial assessment of power authorities, the proposed power plant was seen to generate only one to three megawatts of power.

However, Tan said that the minimal supply which can be harnessed from the facility would be crucial in preventing a total blackout in its service area during emergency situations.

Consumers of BOHECO II spread in 21 towns were without electricity for over a week starting July 6 when a 6.5-magnitude quake rocked Leyte and crippled Bohol’s main power source in the Eastern Visayas province.

The 21 towns were only allotted electricity on Friday last week after the National Gird Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) was able to transmit power from Cebu and Leyte following completion of some facility repairs.

A total of six MW of power was initially relayed to BOHECO II but according to Tan, the load has been increased to 12 MW as of this morning.

While BOHECO II was completely without power last week, other electric distributors such as Bohol Light Company, Inc. and BOHECO I drew energy from four diesel-fired and hydropower plants.

The facilities generated around 8 MW of power. (Allen Doydora)