Rep. Aumentado energizes island

ISLAND ENERGIZED! Rep. Erico Aumentado of Bohol’s 2nd District and Bohol Electric Cooperative (Boheco) General Manager Carlos Itable (5th and 4th from right) lead inaugural rites for the P12-million Getafe-Jandayan Interconnection Project that brings electricity to the three barangays in the island from Getafe in the mainland by submarine cable. With them are, from left, the chairpersons of the energized barangays, Jorge Honculada who represented Gov. Edgardo Chatto,, Acting Mayor Simeon Torreon and Boheco 2 Director Arnold Logod. Foto: TAMIE DABALOS

 

By JUNE S. BLANCO

THREE barangays in Jandayan Island of Getafe town now enjoy electricity via submarine cable through the P12-million Getafe-Jandayan Interconnection Project.

Rep. Erico Aumentado (Bohol, 2nd District) and Engr. Carlos Itable, general manager of the Bohol Electric Cooperative (Boheco), Friday led the switching on ceremony that marked the completion of the initial phase of the interconnection.

The National Electrification Administration (NEA), Aumentado through his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) and Boheco, which implemented the interconnection, jointly funded the P12-million project – a realization of the signing of a memorandum of agreement (MOA) by Administrator Edita Bueno, the solon and Itable as part of President Aquino’s rural electrification program as well as public-private partnership program.

Aumentado said the islanders expressed elation as they also switched on appliances and lights in a first-ever experience in barangays Jandayan Sur, Jandayan Norte and Handumon.

In his message, the solon said the three-barangay electrification also sparks the energization of four more island barangays in Getafe for the Jandayan-Mahanay-Banacon-Jagoliao-Nasingin Interconnection, this time through the less expensive overhead cables as the latter are relatively close to one another. Besides, surface activities in the shallow waters surrounding the islets would only endanger submarine cables.

He committed another P2.5 million from his PDAF as initial funding for the interconnection by overhead cables project – again in partnership with NEA and Boheco 2.

Itable confirmed this, saying the overhead connection for the islets is a top priority.

Assisting Aumentado and Itable in the switching on ceremony were Brgy. Capts. Tirso Torremocha of Jandayan Sur, Linda Pogoy of Jandayan Norte and Felix Torremocha of Handumon, Boheco 2 board Dir. Arnold Logod, Acting Mayor Simon Torreon and Jorge Honculada who represeneted Gov. Edgardo Chatto.

Witnessing the event were former Board Member Mafe Camacho, mayoralty hopeful Casey Shawn “Kasoy” Camacho, Municipal Administrator Theresa Camacho and other town officials. Aside from Logod, also present were Board President Elisa Cadorna and Directors Zaldy Liao, Mariano Salas, Leopoldo Mendez, Fe Vergara, Virginia Item and Zenon Bete.

Following the ceremony, Aumentado also swore into office the Barangay Power Association (Bapa) officers headed by their respective chairmen Camilo Torremocha of Jandayan Sur, Rosendo Bonghanoy of Jandayan Norte and Patricio Mejasco Jr. of Handumon.