Lamitan City, Basilan – In a historic development for Lamitan City, key officials including Governor Jim Salliman-Hataman, Mayor Oric Furigay, Vice Mayor Hegem Furigay, and Conrad Isahac, the Western Mindanao Operations Division Manager of the National Power Corporation (Napocor), led the ceremonial switch-on of the 2MW Rose Power Plant in Sitio Baroy, Barangay Sengal, today.
The plant, powered by a modular diesel generator set, is the result of a P24 million agreement between the Lamitan City government and Napocor. Mayor Furigay declared the new facility as a solution to the city’s long-standing issues with blackouts, promising a brighter future for Lamitan.
“With the operation of the Rose Power Plant, the entire city of Lamitan will no longer experience the perennial blackouts or power outages in the coming days,” Furigay announced. He expressed hope that this milestone would not only resolve Lamitan’s energy challenges but also allow neighboring municipalities to benefit from redistributed power allocations through Baselco.
Governor Salliman emphasized the broader implications of this energy project, highlighting its importance for Lamitan’s development as a strategic hub in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). He outlined plans for infrastructure projects, including a feasibility study for an airport, a 10-hectare sports complex, and the declaration of Lamitan port as an international seaport.
“The Rose Power Plant offers a big boost to Lamitan’s progress,” Salliman said. He also revealed a P520 million project secured from the Department of Budget and Management to upgrade Basilan’s power lines to a three-phase system, ensuring long-term energy reliability.
Vice Mayor Hegem Furigay described the activation of the power plant as a turning point for the city.
“With the commissioning of this 2MW capacity, we are not only addressing the growing energy needs of our communities but also making critical investments in our city’s infrastructure, economic development, and the well-being of every Lamiteño,” he remarked. He praised the collaborative efforts between government, private partners, and the people of Lamitan that made this project possible.
The event was attended by city councilors, barangay officials, and executives from Napocor and Baselco. For the people of Lamitan, the switch-on ceremony marked the beginning of a new chapter, one of reliable energy and a brighter, more prosperous future.
