Hawai’i mayor’s 3-day visit to Ormoc fruitful

Mayor Eric C. Codilla and Mayor Billy Kenoi of Hawai'i.

THE local government unit’s ability to entertain international visitors was put to a test when it played host to the delegation of Mayor Billy Kenoi of Hawai’i, state of Hawaii, USA during his three-day visit to the city as part of the sisterhood ties between his county and Ormoc.
 

Mayor Kenoi and his 14-member delegation arrived last Mar. 26 to learn from Ormoc’s experiences on geothermal exploration and agriculture development. It was Hawai’i that initiated the sisterhood agreement after its officials found Ormoc’s website.
 

They chose Ormoc because of its similarity with Hawai’i on agriculture and geothermal power usage. Cebuano Jean Clement who now lives in Hawaii and also part of the delegation brokered the agreement between the two places. The sisterhood agreement was signed in September last year during Mayor Codilla’s visit to Hawai’i.
 

On their first day, Mayor Kenoi went to Visayas State University (VSU) to sign a memorandum of agreement for a student exchange program between VSU and University of Hawaii, Hilo College of Agriculture. The university will assign a foster home to the VSU student to make his stay there inexpensive.
 

In the afternoon, the party proceeded to Tongonan, this city where they were welcomed by Engr. Manuel Paete, VP of Leyte Geothermal Production Field (LGPF). The visitors were amazed to learn that LGPF is the world’s biggest wet steam field with a capacity of 700MW, many times larger than their 38MW power plant.
 

Mayor Kenoi remarked: “I cannot believe I am now standing in a building that is considered the world’s largest wet steam field. Considering this area supplies electricity to other regions, it is amazing that I am able to see by my eyes the operation.”
 

The guests were presented video and power point presentations on Energy Development Corp.’s (EDC) profile, stages of geothermal exploration, reservoir and watershed management, steam field operation, and EDC’s corporate social responsibility.
 

Michael Kaleikini, manager of the 38MW Ormat power plant in Hawaii and member of the delegate said he was able to have a one-day visit at LGPF’s Mahanagdong plant in 2000 which was then still under construction. He appreciates the plant tour, saying he can apply the things he learned on plant operation. The party then proceeded to the substation of National Grid Corp. of the Philippines in Milagro and the office of Leyte-V Electric Cooperative in Simangan, this city.
 

The following day, the guests went to Sabin Larrazabal’s pineapple plantation in Masarayao, Kananga town. They then proceeded to Candahug, Palo town to visit the shrine of Gen. Douglas MacArthur. They also paid a courtesy call to Tacloban Mayor Alfred Romualdez.
 

Mayor Codilla tendered a sendoff party on the night of Mar. 28 featuring native dances participated by the foreign guests. Other members of Mayor Kenoi’s party are County Research and Development Director Randy Kurohara, Executive Secretary to the Mayor Paulette Cainglet, Immigration Specialist Rose Bautista, Country Energy Coordinator William Rolston, Geothermal Working Group co-chairmen Richard Ha and Wallace Ishibashi, Councilor Angel Pilago, Congress of Visayan Organization President Jane Clement, Hawaiian Electric Light Company President Jay Ignacio, Puna Geothermal Venture Manager Mike Kaleikini, Parker Ranch President Neil Kuyper, Acting Dean Dr. Bruce Mathews of the University of Hawaii at Hilo College of Agriculture, Hawaii Filipino Community Leader Dr. Sonny Genio, etc. by Elvie Roman-Roa

(West Leyte Weekly Express issue of Mar. 26-Apr. 1, 2012)