TIEZA golf course plan blocking Mindanao-Visayas power interconnection, says Rodriguez
At A Glance
- Cagayan de Oro City 2nd district Rep. Rufus Rodriguez has taken to task a government agency for its plans to develop a golf course that will supposedly impede the linking of the Visayas and Mindanao power grids.
Cagayan de Oro City 2nd district Rep. Rufus Rodriguez (Facebook)
Cagayan de Oro City 2nd district Rep. Rufus Rodriguez has taken to task a government agency for its plans to develop a golf course that will supposedly impede the linking of the Visayas and Mindanao power grids.
“I am urging the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) to withdraw its petition before the Supreme Court (SC) opposing the construction of a power line that would lead to the Visayas-Mindanao interconnection,” Rodriguez said.
The lawmaker said TIEZA is opposed to the Cebu-Magdugo line because the two tower sites are located within its property.
TIEZA is planning to convert the said property into a golf course.
“This agency has misplaced priorities. It regards a golf course as more important than the power interconnection of Visayas and Mindanao, which will unlock enormous development potentials in these two large islands, in addition to energizing many urban and rural communities,” the solon stressed.
Rodriguez has appealed to the Department of Tourism (DOT) to compel its attached agency TIEZA to withdraw its petition before the SC.
“Once the complaint is withdrawn, the high court should lift the temporary restraining order (TRO) it issued against the construction of the Cebu power line,” he said.
The National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP), the operator of the country’s transmission lines, said they have until the end of this year to interconnect the Visayas and Mindanao power grids.
The NGCP said the TRO has delayed the interconnection.
The Cebu-Magdugo line--a component of the Cebu-Negros-Pangay backbone project--is vital to the operation of the 450-megawatt (MW) Mindanao-Visayas interconnection project.
Rodriguez is hoping that this project can proceed and get completed as it would result to a more reliable power supply in Visayas and Mindanao.
“Who knows, these may even lead to lower electricity cost in our communities,” he added. --Dexter Barro II