Dumaguete: The Negros Oriental II Electric Cooperative (NORECO II) is proposing to pilot clean and renewable energy in Apo Island, Dauin town, and other parts of its coverage area in the province.
Mario Pascobello, Apo Island village chief, got a letter dated Sept. 4, 2024 from NORECO II general manager Fe Dicen Tagle on Friday regarding the solar power project to be undertaken in partnership with a renewable energy firm based in the United States.
This matter, he said, will be discussed with Dauin Mayor Galicano Truita and other local government officials next week.
Pascobello told the Philippine News Agency that his constituents welcomed the project since it has long been their dream to have an uninterrupted power supply on the island.
‘Actually, before the power generator was installed on the island in 2003, I have always pushed for solar energy. But solar power was very expensive back then and we could not afford it,’ he said in mixed English and Cebuano.
‘We are very happy with this proposed solar p
roject because most of the households in Apo Island are NORECO II members,’ he said.
The electric cooperative had previously proposed to connect Apo Island to mainland Dauin via submarine cables but that project never panned out most likely due to high costs, Pascobello said.
He said the island has almost 1,000 residents excluding the commercial establishments that cater to tourists and other visitors.
NORECO II said in its letter it ‘acknowledge(s) the eco-tourism potential of Apo Island’ and is ‘keen to establish a collaborative partnership with the local government of Dauin’ and the island.
From Sept. 10 to 12, NORECO II and Allotrope, a clean energy investment and advisory firm based in California, U.S.A. and with offices in the Philippines and Southeast Asia, will be visiting Apo Island and other pilot sites in Tanjay City and Bayawan City, the letter said.
Pascobello said the finer details and arrangements of the proposed project will be discussed when they meet with local government officials on S
ept. 12.
Meanwhile, Truita said he is hopeful that the solar project will push ahead in Apo Island as ‘it will address the primary needs of the people’, especially safe drinking water and sustainable electricity.
‘In fact, I have even requested Malacañang for a PHP260 million budget for a water desalination plant powered by solar energy,’ he said.
To date, islanders go to the mainland for their drinking water needs or buy bottled water while electricity is not yet available 24/7.
Source: Philippines News Agency