Wind energy farm project eyed in Ilocos Sur
By: Freddie G. Lazaro
VIGAN CITY (31 October) -- Provincial officials has asked Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla to accept the establishment of wind farm in Santa, Ilocos Sur as its alternative source of electricity.
Governor Luis Chavit Singson said that the proposed wind energy farm will benefit the residents in terms of reduction of power rates.
Vice Governor Deogracias Victor Savellano, who authored Resolution 247 Series of 2006 requesting Secretary Lotilla to reconsider the construction of wind farm in Ilocos Sur, told on Tuesday that Santa town had a best potential for wind farm project due to its year - round strong winds.
"The presence of strong winds Santa town has a great advantage for the government specially if these strong winds converted into electricity, power rates will be lowered and it will generate income," Savellano said.
"In the establishment of wind farm in Ilocos Sur, more job opportunities will be created during its construction and it would also provide share of the local government unit (LGU) for every kilowatt per hour of delivered energy," he added.
According to Savellano, the project will parallel to the commitment projects as mentioned by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in her recent State of the Nation Address (SONA).
"In bid to carry out the commitment of President Arroyo as contained in her recent SONA) the five (5) Super Regions were created to make the country in step with its Asian neighbors, he explained.
"One of the Super Regions is Northern Luzon Agribusiness Quadrangle (NLAQ), wherein Ilocos Sur is a member province, had initially jumpstart its multi level and multi - sectoral collaboration to implement plans and projects as mentioned in the President's SONA," he added.
The vice governor disclosed that seventeen (17) major development projects for NLAQ have been identified which includes among others the Banaoang Pump Irrigation and Salomague Seaport in the province of Ilocos Sur.
Also in the NLAQ's development agenda area energy projects particularly with wind power projects of the provinces of Batanes and Ilocos Norte; which are possible sources of energy.
On June 2005, Governor Singson had launched a "hydrogen - power project" at his resident in Baluarte, Vigan City to mitigate the continuous surge of oil prices.
On same year, the provincial board passed Resolution no. 062 Series of 2005 requesting the then Energy Secretary Vincent S. Perez Jr., for the establishment of wind energy farm in the province. This was in bid to establish an alternative energy source for Ilocos Sur's consumers. (PIA Ilocos) [top]
