THE Covid-19 pandemic is so huge and devastating that the government needs the private sector to help in quelling the problem.
Help and support from all sectors come in various ways and in unexpected places. In Quezon, one initiative comes from the Pagbilao Power Station (PPS) which serves as a bridge in funding allocation for the needs of the local governments in Quezon province.
As part of the host community, the Pagbilao Energy Corp. (PEC) in Bgy. Ibabang Polo has coordinated with the Dept. of Energy in the utilization of Energy Regulation (ER) 1-94 from plant operation, said Froilan Gregory Romualdez III, head for external affairs of Team Energy Corp. (TEC) which runs the 735-megawatt Pagbilao coal-fired power plant. PEC is Team Energy’s joint venture with Aboitiz Power for the Pagbilao Unit Project 3.
Every P0.01 per kilowatt-hour generated by the PPS goes to the host community. It is mandated by the Dept. of Energy Act of 1992 and Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 which provides funds for the community divided into 3, namely, Electrification Fund (EF), Development and Livelihood Fund (DLF), and Reforestation, Watershed Management, Health and Environment Enhancement Fund (RWMHEEF).
According to Romualdez, a total of P96,448,493 worth of various Covid-19 related projects were implemented for Quezon from the ER 1-94 funds in coordination with the governor, health and social welfare officials.
They were: Provision of medical equipment (medical beds, ventilators, xray machines, etc. worth P17,808,214 from DLF; food and accommodation for healthcare workers, P15,171,805 from RWMHEEF; food allowance for probable (previously PUIs) Covid-19 patients, strandees, frontliners, P778,183 from RWMHEEF; feeding program and provision of relief goods, P4,955,179 from RWMHEEF; and feeding program and provision of relief goods, P57,735,112 from RWMHEEF.
For Pagbilao, in coordination with Mayor Shierre Ann Portes-Palicpic and the Sangguniang Bayan headed by vice mayor Joseph Garcia, the ER 1-94 resulted to the turnover of relief goods, rescue vehicles, bicycles for commuting Pagbilaoin workers, purchase of beddings and hygiene kits, purchase of anti-flu vaccine and anti-pneumonia vaccine, testing for Covid-19 health workers, frontliners and patients, construction of sanitary landfill, among others which amounted to P53,426,880.
For the host barangay of Ibabang Polo headed by Bgy. chairman Arnel Amandy and the Sangguniang Barangay, a total of P42,285,110 worth of projects were implemented from the ER 1-94 such as the construction of health center phase 2 and 3, purchase of relief goods, rice and groceries; purchase of drugs and medicines; purchase of ambulance with complete accessories; purchase of medical equipment and personal protective equipment; purchase of fire truck and rescue vehicle, among others.
As for the resettlement site of Bgy. Ilayang Polo, it has received a total of P13,420,432 worth of projects which included purchase of relief goods, medical equipment, hygiene kits for Covid-19 patients, construction of health center phase 1 and improvement and rehabilitation of water works system with pipeline.
Romualdez said that aside from the various projects allocated for the local government units P21,299,321 from the regional share (Region IV-A) of ER1-94 was also added to the provincial government of Quezon from the operation of PPS.
The various projects for the provincial government of Quezon, municipal government of Pagbilao and barangays Ilayang Polo and Ibabang Polo were implemented from April to Dec. 2020.
On Sept. 16 last year the Team Energy Foundation Inc. turned over an emergency response vehicle for use in the barangay and 2 patrol motorcycles for the town’s police station, and on March 18, this year 64 pics of water carts were given to help Pagbilao residents in carrying their water to their houses.
Last week, Romualdez said the PEC has turned over 60 pulse oximeter and 12 laryngoscope to Quezon Medical Center to help doctors in the diagnose and treatment of patients. This was witnessed by Quezon Medical Center Chief of Hospital, Dr. Rolando Padre, Amandy, Romualdez and other TEC personnel. The PEC has also turned over various medicines and medical supplies to Bgy. Ibabang Polo.