Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 17) — Construction has not yet started on the Montelago geothermal power plant in Oriental Mindoro, the Department of Energy said Wednesday — seven years after the facility was expected to begin operating in 2016.
Energy Assistant Secretary Mario Marasigan said the project developer failed to deliver, but it asked for reconsideration two years ago.
\”Unfortunately, hindi naka-deliver yung atin pong developer. Kaya hanggang ngayon ay hindi po nagagawa at natatayo. Na-terminate na po natin yung original contract noon,\” he said during a Senate hearing.
[Translation: Unfortunately, the developer failed to deliver. Hence, it’s yet to be constructed. We already terminated the original contract.]
\”Humingi po sila ng reconsideration two years ago at nabigyan po sila ng specific timeframe para kumpletuhin. Datapwat ngayon ay nasa assessment period na ulit kasi hindi po ulit nai-deliver yung project,\” Marasigan added.
[Translation: They asked for reconsideration two years ago and they were given a specific timeline to complete it. However, they are back in the assessment period because they failed to deliver again.]
Launched in 2014, the supposed 40-megawatt geothermal power was to be located in Barangays Montelago, Montemayor and Melgar-B in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro.
