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Beneco to build its hydroelectric power plant
By JDP/SCA-PIA Benguet

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet — The Benguet Electric Cooperative (Beneco) hopes to generate its own hydroelectric power by developing mini-hydros along the Man-asok River in Buguias. It is also looking at establishing a mini-hydro in Tuba.

Department Mmnager of the corporate planning office Joselito Villarey said the power plant will have a capacity of three megawatts sufficient to supply the power requirements of the northern part of the province. He said there are several requirements needed before securing permit and the process is tedious.

The Free Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) requirement of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples is still on process, according to Engineer Garett Waytan of beneco. #

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Senior citizens advised to apply for discounts
By Larry Lopez/JDP/PIA-CAR, Kalinga

TABUK, Kalinga — Senior citizens here are advised to apply at the general utility offices in the province to avail of the discount on monthly water and electric bills.

Eusebia Haddac of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) explained that the 5 % discount in the monthly water and electric bills granted to senior citizens is not automatic consumers must apply for it. She further said that qualified beneficiaries must not consume more than 100 kilowatts per month for power discount and not more than 30 cubic meters for the water discount.

Entitled senior citizens to the power and water discounts must be listed as member-consumers of both service providers. If they stay with the family of a member-consumer, the family will not be entitled to the benefit, Haddac elaborated. #

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NFA assures enough rice supply
By Andrew Doga-ong/JDP/ABD-PIA CAR, Mt. Province

BONTOC, Mt. Province—National Food Authority (NFA) provincial manager Raymund Tafalla assured that the rice supply of the province is enough as the NFA is maintaining 9,000 to 10,000 bags in its warehouse here.

Tafalla added that Mountain Province could also secure rice supplies from its buffer stocks stored at the Bagabag and Magsaysay warehouses in Nueva Vizcaya to replenish whatever stocks are disposed from Bontoc.

Mt. Province depends on the NFA for about 21% of its total rice supplies or 79,146 bags while about 23% or 80,316 bags is provided by private rice retailers annually.

Bureau of Agricultural Statistics 2010 data show that Mt. Province produces about 223,554 bag of rice while it consumes about 383,012 bags resulting to a deficit of about 159,457 bags. #