MINING

▪ Albay province leads in the production of metallic minerals while Camarines Norte in non-metallic minerals in Bicol for the year 2009 valued at P2,424,934,601.34 and P21,728,191.25, respectively, records at the Bicol Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) showed. In metallic production, Albay is followed by Masbate with P2,197,935,207.43 and Camarines Norte – P31,948,615.54.

ENERGY

▪ ALECO recently entered into an agreement with Aboitiz, an independent power provider (IPP), for the latter to provide the cooperative with 40 percent of its electricity requirements. Engr. Alex Realosa, ALECO acting general manager, said ALECO Board Chair lawyer Rudolfo Bonafe signed the agreement on April 12, 2010 marking the start of a bilateral contract between the two power firms.

“ALECO would pay Aboitiz P50 million worth of electricity supply per month,” Realosa said. Aboitiz would be selling its power to ALECO by P4.21 per kilowatt hours compared to P65 per kilowatt hour imposed by the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM). He said the agreement would be beneficial to the 150,000 member consumers of the cooperative as this would bring down its power rates unlike the very high electricity price spikes imposed by the WESM.

 
POST ELECTION

▪ The first automated national and local elections were a success in Bicol after election authorities and the Philippine National Police said the electoral exercise was orderly and peaceful in many parts of Bicol.

Supt. Eliciar Bron, PNP Bicol spokesman, said there was heavy turnout of voters and no major untoward incident took place except for cases of vote buying, defective Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machines. and slow voting process. In Masbate, which was under Comelec control, the election was held peacefully with minor reports of untoward incidents said Col. Bron, [Sources: Agency Press Releases/PIA/PNA/Bicol Mail/Vox Bicol]

TRANSPORT SITUATION

▪ Sea Port

Operations resumed anew for the sea port in Barangay Osmena, Panganiban Camarines Norte since March this year with its reported utilization by Pan Century Surfactants Inc. (PCSI), a mining firm.

Sonny V. Usana, PCSI spokeman, bared in a press release that the mining firm has been utilizing the pier as a Chinese vessel, MV Jing Gang Shan, docked at the port loading up iron ore from various mining sites across the province for transport to China for processing. Usana said that this provided employment to at least 200 locals, providing services, hauling and transporting the ore from source and loading the same to the ship, with a DWT capacity of 4,700 metric ton.

He added that the reopening of the port will open the door for other companies for their business activities that is advantageous for them because using this facility will be more economical and easier than taking the land route from Camarines Norte to Manila or other places.

▪ RoRo Port

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo inaugurated on May 27 a new strategically-located RoRo (roll-on-roll-off) port in San Pascual, Burias Island, Masbate during her visit to this town.

The P46.3 million RoRo port was completed last year but blessing and inauguration was held when the President set foot in this remote town for the first time. It can accommodate bigger cargo and passenger vessels passing through routes to and from Quezon, Masbate, Romblon, Cebu and Davao. The port will also boost local tourism as San Pascual has numerous tourist spots like Sumbrero Island and Tinalisayan Island which are inhabited by green sea turtle or pawikans.

▪ Rail Transport

The Philippine National Railways (PNR) is set to reopen its railways from Manila to Bicol after it was closed down in 2006 due to heavy typhoon damages, according to General Manager Ower Andal. The reopening of the railways from Manila to Bicol has been facilitated by the completion of the 50-meter San Cristobal Bridge that he said is a vital part of the Northrail-Southrail Linkage Phase II that runs from Calamba to Lucena.

The PNR is waiting for new coaches from Japan which are to be used in the long trips from Bicol-Manila-Manila-Bicol route. Andal said the full operation of the PNR train coming here and going to Manila is expected to start in September 26 in time for the celebration of the 300-year devotion to the Our Lady of Peñafrancia. (Bicol Mail, June 17)