By IRENE DAYO
THE Association of Mindanao Rural Electric Cooperatives (Amreco), with the partnership of Mindanao University of Science and Technology (MUST), Institute of Power Sector Economics, and Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), will host the second Mindanao Congress of the Advocates for Renewable Energy and Rural Electrification and Development (MinCARED).
This will be held on May 27-28 at the Xavier Estates Country Club Grand Convention Hall in Cagayan de Oro. Having the theme “Mainstreaming the Mindanao Power Agenda,” the congress highlights effective ways of providing reliable, affordable and sustainable power supply in Mindanao.
Secretary Luwalhati R. Antonino, chairperson of MinDA, has been invited to keynote the congress.
“’Mainstreaming the Mindanao Power Agenda’ will strongly optimize Mindanao’s response to the global consumer issues,” Clint Django G. Pacana, executive director of Amreco, said.
The congress will feature effective ways in which advocates can contribute in fostering sustainable solutions to the power problem in Mindanao, and will also provide a valuable network-building opportunity. One such opportunity is the exchange of ideas and experiences between non-government organizations, local government units and diverse experts and organizations working on power issues.
“MinCARED is a conference or gathering of stakeholders of power,” Dr. Ricardo E. Rotoras, president of MUST, said.
According to Rotoras, in this second MinCARED, as designed by Amreco president Sergio C. Dagooc, they will talk about what has happened to the problems presented before, the status of the solutions they have provided, and what the National Government has done.
“We will also be discussing how the people, the consumer, the media, can play an active role in providing solutions in power problems in Mindanao,” he added.
There will be three main focused group discussions: Mindanao Hydro Electric Power Plant, Central Purchasing Mechanism and Renewable Energy and Rural Electrification.
According to Pacana, some 500 participants will represent LGUs NGOs, the academe, civil society organizations, electric cooperatives, media, the private sector and other stakeholders.
In the first MinCARED held last year, the advocates discussed various concerns and issues on power in Mindanao. They also tackled different power problems, as well as possible solutions to these problems.