The office of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) in Western Visayas said the region can serve as a hub for renewable energy projects.
Gil A. Altura, chief of NEDA-Western Visayas’ Project Development Investment Programming and Budgeting Division, told journalists here that the region can be a frontrunner in renewable energy development in 10 years.
He noted that the region now hosts several major renewable energy projects such as the 40-kilowatt (kW) Canauilan-Barasalon Micro-hydro plant in Janiuay, Iloilo; as well as the 32-kW Balea Micro-hydro plant in Calatrava, 32-kW Vergra-Magtuod Micro-hydro plant and the 21-kW Baclao Micro-hydro plant in Cauayan in Negros Occidental.
All of these have been undertaken with aid from Japan.
There is also a 15-kW hydro plant being built in Sebaste, Antique, as well as the 8-megawatt (MW) Villasiga Hydro plant in Bugasong and the 2.1-MW Guiamon-San Ramon Hydro plant in Laua-an, all in Antique.
A memorandum of agreement for hydro power exploration has also been signed recently by Conal Holdings/Alto Power Management Corp. and the local government units of Kabankalan and Negros Occidental for the proposed 40-MW Bago River Power Plant.
Biomass plants include a 21-MW plant of First Farmers Holding Corp., a 15-MW plant in Mina, Iloilo and a 17-MW plant in Capiz of Green Power Panay Philippines, Inc.
For wind power, Trans-Asia Renewable Energy Corp. has been working on a 54-MW project in San Lorenzo, Guimaras.
