CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (MindaNews/02 September) — The Filinvest Development Corporation said on Friday it has synchronized the energy production of its multi-billion peso coal-fired power plant at the Phividec Industrial Estate in Villanueva, Misamis Oriental to the Mindanao grid system.

In a statement, Filinvest said two units of turbine, each of them generating 135 megawatts are already producing electricity and connected to the Mindanao grid.

A third turbine, also capable of generating 135 MW is expected to be online by the end of September, the company said.

“To date, FDC Misamis Oriental has a generating capacity of 270 megawatts and is currently supplying 200 megawats to the Mindanao grid. We expect to attain the full capacity by this month,” FDC Utilities President and Chief Executive Officer Mario Pangilinan said.

FDC’s 450-megawatt coal-fired power plant in Misamis Oriental is the biggest of its kind in Mindanao and is using circulating fluidized bed boiler technology, touted as one of the cleanest in the industry.

National Grid Corporation of the Philippines head of Mindanao operations Ambrosio Rosales welcomed the entry of FDC’s coal plant, saying it will help secure the stability of the energy situation in Mindanao.

Presently, Mindanao only has a power reserve of 131 MW against a peak demand of 1,574 MW

Upon commissioning of its third turbine unit this month, the FDC coal plant will supply 500 MW to the grid and is expected to secure supply contracts with Mindanao’s energy distributors and industrial centers.

FDC is the holding company of the Gotianun-led Filinvest group, one of the country’s leading conglomerates with interests on property development, banking, hotel and resorts, sugar and energy. (Froilan Gallardo/MindaNews)</s>(Updated 12:34 n.n.)

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A 6.0-magnitude earthquake shook Agusan del Sur on Sunday morning, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).

Phivolcs said the epicenter of the earthquake, with a depth of six kilometers, was located 19 kilometers from Talacogon, Agusan Del Sur.

The agency updated its earlier report that the quake, which occurred at 10:38 a.m., was of 5.7 magnitude.

The earthquake, which is tectonic in origin, is expected to have caused damages and to have aftershocks.

It was felt in the following towns and cities:

Intensity VI — Talacogon, Agusan del Sur

Intensity IV — Butuan City, Hinatuan in Surigao del Sur and Tagum City

Intensity III — Gingoog in Misamis Oriental, Bislig City, Davao City, Balingwan and Balingasag in Misamis Oriental

Intensity II — Cagayan de Oro City

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Intensity I — Kidapawan City

Instrumental Intensity IV — Bislig City

Instrumental Intensity I — Kidapawan City.

READ: Magnitude 5.2 quake jolts parts of Mindanao

The temblor was also felt in the cities of Tagum, Davao and Panabo.

Locals reported experiencing dizzying movements as the ground shook, with many fearfully rushing out of their homes.

“I was inside my room when the shaking started, which lasted for almost a minute. I felt dizzy so I rushed outside,” said Richard Grande, a local radio broadcaster in San Francisco, Agusan del Sur. Frinston Lim, Inquirer Mindanao

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MOST READ</s>A STRONG earthquake struck the province of Agusan del Sur in Mindanao on Sunday morning, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said.

Phivolcs said the Magnitude 6 earthquake occurred at 10:38 a.m., with its epicenter at 19 kilometers from Talacogon, Agusan del Sur.

Phivolcs said Intensity 6 was felt in Talacogon, Agusan del Sur; Intensity 4 in Butuan City, Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur and Tagum City; Intensity 3 in Balingwan, Balingasag and Gingoog in Misamis Oriental, Bislig City and Davao City; Intensity 2 in Cagayan de Oro City and Intensity 1 in Kidapawan City.

Aftershocks and damage were expected as a result of the quake, Phivolcs said.

The agency had updated an earlier report stating that the tectonic quake had a magnitude of 5.7.

While some areas of Mindanao experienced just slight tremors, those closer to the epicenter reported more serious shaking with people fleeing outdoors for fear their houses might collapse.</s>DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/04 Sept) – A magnitude 6 earthquake struck Talacogon in Agusan del Sur at 10:38 a.m. Sunday but there were no reports of deaths, injuries or damages to property.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said the quake was felt in neighboring areas, at Intensity 6 in Talacogon, La Paz and Rosario in Agusan del Sur; Intensity 5 in Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur; Intensity 4 in the cities of Butuan and Tagum and in Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur; Intensity 3 in the cities of Davao, Bislig in Surigao del Sur and Gingoog in Misamis Oriental, and in Balingoan and Balingasag towns also in Misamis Oriental.

The quake was also felt at Intensity 2 in Cagayan de Oro City and Intensity 1 in Kidapawan City.

Ten more quakes were recorded by Phivolcs with epicenter also in Talacogon at Magnitue 3.1 at 10:49 a.m.; 3.8 at 3.15 p.m.; 3.5 at 3:29 p.m.; 4.6 at 3:54 p.m.; 3.3 at 4:04 p.m.; 2.8 at 4:37 p.m.; 2.9 at 4:54 p.m.; 3.1 at 5:04 p.m.; 2.4 at 5:15 p.m. and 2.8 at 5:20 p.m. (MindaNews)
A 6.0 magnitude earthquake strikes Agusan del Sur province in Mindanao island.