AN ENERGY solutions firm is planning to pilot a project that could provide communities in Bongabong, Oriental Mindoro with an uninterrupted source of power using state-of-the-art technologies and clean energy.
Bongabong Mayor Elegio Malaluan met with DM-X Technologies Inc. chair and chief executive officer Deodato Reloj Jr. on Friday at the latter’s warehouse in Clark, Pampanga and discussed the possible partnership.
DM-X's core is offering a distributed power generation system (DPGS) that generates primary power as opposed to simply being a standby power generator.
The firm is also engaged in the distribution of lubricants and clean fuel proprietary technology by United States-based Amptron Corporation.
Malaluan is optimistic DM-X's technologies would open up more opportunities and pave way for the municipality's development, hampered by persistent power interruption in the island.
"Sa Mindoro, parating brownout. Ang pino-propose nila (DM-X) ay magkaroon ng power plant sa Bongabong at Roxas, at 'yung Bongabong ang magiging model or pilot. Kung magkaganoon, 'pag naging maayos iyon, sa ibang bayan naman (We experience a lot of brownouts in Mindoro. The DM-X has proposed a power plant in Bongabong and Roxas, with Bongabong as the model or pilot. If it succeeds, they will look at other municipalities)," Malaluan told the Philippine News Agency in an interview.
He said an agreement with DM-X could be signed as soon as he secures an authority from the Sangguniang Bayan (municipal council).
No timeline has been set yet but DM-X officer Jenifer Reloj is hoping to see the deal inked before the end of the Duterte administration in June.
She said the project would be in collaboration with the Department of Energy (DOE), National Transmission Corporation (TransCo), and National Power Corporation (Napocor).
"Kung makapag-decide na sila na gagawin ng pilot at mag-decide anong area muna, kunwari ospital, munisipyo, manufacturing o may mga project na kailangan 24/7 ang kuryente, 'yung project na maraming mag-i-invest, o kunwari 'yung prawn hatchery program nila, doon kami magsisimula (Once they've decided to pilot the program and identify an area, for example in a hospital, the municipal hall, a manufacturing establishment, or other projects that need power 24/7 like their prawn hatchery program, that's where we will start)," she said.
"The decision was to pilot a one-megawatt project in Bongabong to show the DOE, Transco, and Napocor that DM-X can be a primary source of power. In the future, we would expand to serve more of Bongabong's constituents and provide them electricity 24/7," she added.
DM-X is a special purpose entity within the Biosyn Group of Companies, a pioneer in the production of ultra-clean fuels and petrochemicals from feedstocks.
With the use of its own low carbon-footprint fuel, a DPGS could run without creating harmful emissions, thus it's not only cost-effective but also environment-friendly, according to Reloj.
In addition, its installations are spread out or distributed in relatively small capacities, deterring saboteurs.
"Ang amin ay solusyon na alternative sa grid. Mayroon din itong sariling power line system," she noted, pointing out that issues with electric power lines are often one of the main causes of power interruptions.
Since DM-X's DPGS has the capacity to serve as the baseload or the main source of power, Reloj said this model could also be replicated nationwide.
"We want to be the future of electricity. DM-X will provide long-term energy solutions for the Philippines," she said.
Livelihood assistance
Apart from providing a reliable and cost-effective power source, DM-X also hopes to further empower communities in Bongabong, especially the indigenous peoples (IP) communities.
In the same meeting, the firm expressed readiness to share technology and finance livelihood programs for the Mangyans, proposals welcomed by Malaluan and the National Commission for Indigenous Peoples (NCIP).
NCIP Provincial Officer for Oriental Mindoro, Reynante Luna, noted that the project would still have to secure a Free and Prior Informed Consent or the consensus of all members of the IPs in accordance with their laws and practices.
"'Yung pangangalaga ng isda at halaman na gagamitan ng (DM-X) technology, isa lang ito sa maaring intervention among all others na nakita namin na maari nilang ilapat sa ancestral domains pero, of course, kailangan dadaan pa rin sa process para malaman ng buong komunidad na itong project na ito ay i-implement sa katutubo (One of their technologies, the aquaponics, is one of the many interventions that we see can be introduced in ancestral domains but of course, it would still need to undergo the validation process of so that everyone in the IP community is aware)," he said.
He said the proposal was also relayed to IP leader Yawin-Ay Guiyayan and it earned a favorable initial reception.(Joyce Ann L. Rocamora)
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