By Lou Ellen L. Antonio
ILIGAN CITY (PIA) – Iligan City is set to host a gathering of power stakeholders in Mindanao on May 30 and 31 at the Mindanao State University – Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT) gymnasium.
With the theme “Energy Secure and Empowered Mindanao through Innovations,” the Mindanao Power Summit is spearheaded by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation of Iligan Inc. (CCIFII) with the support of the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) and the city government of Iligan.
The summit’s agenda revolves around addressing pertinent issues within the power industry, including policy changes, development interventions, and investment opportunities to ensure stable, affordable, and sustainable energy for Mindanao.
It will bring together stakeholders from national government agencies, local government units, and other sectors to engage in discussions and tackle energy challenges head-on.
The Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation of Iligan Inc., Kapisanan ng mga Broadkaster ng Pilipinas Iligan Chapter, and the Philippine Information Agency (PIA)-10 signed a Memorandum of Understanding to boost public awareness of the Mindanao Power Summit. (Photo by: ADD/PIA-10 Lanao del Norte)
“The main goal of this summit is to bring all the key stakeholders together to talk about challenges in Mindanao, address energy [issues], and come up with a design or solution to have stable, resilient, affordable and sustainable energy in the region,” said CCIFII President Reggie Punongbayan in a press conference.
She said the ideas that will be generated at the summit will be presented at a larger meeting to be hosted by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industries, extending the discourse to a national level.
Lordilie Enjambre, officer-in-charge of the MinDA in Northern Mindanao, stressed the importance of a practical campaign plan to foster a vibrant energy sector. This, she said, together with policy resolutions, are some of the expected outputs from the summit.
Enjambre also emphasized the relevance of the summit to Iligan City, which anticipates increased energy demand due to upcoming housing projects and commercial developments that will require additional megawatts of power.
In response, Iligan City Mayor Frederick Siao expressed gratitude for the opportunity to host the summit and reiterated the city’s commitment to addressing power shortages and enhancing infrastructure to support economic growth.
A Memorandum of Understanding was signed during the press conference between the CCIFII, Kapisanan ng mga Broadkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) Iligan Chapter, and the regional office of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) to establish collaboration and promote public awareness through media campaigns and information dissemination.
PIA Regional Head Franklin Gumapon voiced full support for the summit, emphasizing its potential to introduce innovative solutions for improving power supply not only in Mindanao but nationwide.
The summit is also supported by the Regional Development Council-10, the Department of Information and Communications Technology, and the Department of the Interior and Local Government. (LELA/PIA-10 Lanao del Norte)
