A P200-M Solar-Diesel Hybrid Power Generation facility will be established in Tawitawi starting next year to boost the Seaweed Farming Industry in the island-towns of Sibutu, Sitangkai and Panglima-Sugala.
Started by my predecessor, the late Sec. Abul Khayr Alonto, the Renewable Energy in Tawitawi for Seaweeds Value-Adding (RETS) will construct a solar-power generation facility with a back-up diesel generator to ensure reliable power supply for seaweeds drying and processing.
The United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) is implementing the project funded by the European Union through its Access to Sustainable Energy Programme (EU-ASEP) with counterpart funding from the Provincial Government of Tawitawi and the Association of Islands Electric Cooperative through the local franchisee, Tawitawi Electric Cooperative (TAWELCO).
The Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), then headed by the late Sec. Alonto, initiated the project following requests made by the seaweed farmers of the province for a reliable source of power for the drying and processing of seaweeds.
Yesterday, I presided over the meeting of the Project Steering Committee in the MinDA headquarters in Davao City to ensure that the project started by the late Sec. Alonto will be pursued.
Stakeholders from Tawitawi and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) attended that meeting along with UNIDO and TAWELCO officials.
UNIDO Philippine Country Representative Tonilyn Lim reported that the bidding for the construction of the Solar-Diesel Hybrid Power Generation Project been conducted and the winning bidder will be known before the end of the year.
When completed, the RETS project will provide steady and reliable supply of power, not only for the drying and processing of the seaweeds, but also to the households in the island municipalities.
(Photos of the RETS Project Steering Committee were taken by the MinDA staff while photos of Tawitawi Seaweed Farmers were downloaded from public websites.)
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