MCW Commissioner Dr. Melchie Ambalong meets with Iligan City councilors on May 30, 2010 to support her group’s campaign on “No To Privatization of Agus Pulangui Hydro Plants.”

For a long time, Mindanaoans enjoy the lowest electricity rates in the country thanks to the Agus/Pulangui Hydro Complexes located in Iligan City.  But this benefit might soon be gone if plans to privatize the hydro plants will push through in 2011 in accordance with the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) of 2001.  To oppose this, a group called Lanao Power Consumers Federation  (LAPOCOF) was formed which is headed by MCW Commissioner Dr. Melchie Ambalong.  The group believes that privatization and sale will result to hikes in power rates and other disadvantages for Mindanawons.  Last May 30, 2010, Dr. Ambalong met with Iligan City councilors asking for their support to the “No To Privatization of Agus Pulangui Hydro Plants” campaign.

Dr. Ambalong (in the middle) together with officials of the mini-hydro power plant in Mountain View College, Bukidnon.

During the last week of May, Dr. Ambalong also visited a couple of mini-hydro power plants, one located in Mountain View College in Valencia, Bukidnon and the other in Matling Malabang, Lanao del Sur.  Purpose of the visits is to study the advantages of mini-hydro plants such as “no brownouts” and very cheap electricity rates.  “With these benefits, it would be of big help to women who are the main users of electricity and who budgets power payments at home,” said Dr. Ambalong.

The mini-hydro power plant in Mountain View College, Bukidnon.