PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan -- Solar and hydropower are alternative sources of energy that are suitable for Palawan's need for reliable, cheaper, and environment-friendly power supply, a ranking official of the local environment office said Thursday.
Provincial environment and natural resources officer Felizardo Cayatoc said in an interview that both solar and hydro projects are suitable, especially in remote villages on the mainland and in the island-municipalities.
"Ang kailangan natin dito sa Palawan ay itong solar and hydropower, which are renewable energies. Sa solar farm ay kailangan mo nyan ng malaking space talaga na mapaglalagyan ng solar panels at syempre yung mga batteries or generators nyan sa pag-capture nyan o storage ng energy. Sa solar farm ay wala pang nag-operate pero sana magkaroon tayo (What we need here are solar and hydropower, which are renewable energies. In a solar farm, we need a big space to put up the solar panels and for the batteries or generators to capture or (which can serve) storage for energy. There is no operator of a solar farm here yet. That's why, I hope we can have one)," he said.
Cayatoc noted that the rising cost of fuel used in other modes of power generation makes renewable energy projects viable and acceptable in the province.
"Ang krudo natin ay mahal. Kung genset naman ay gumagamit din ng krudo. Sa renewable energy kasi ay mas mura ang kuryente dahil sa araw lang kukunin (Crude oil is so expensive. If we use generator sets, they also use crude oil. In renewable energy, power is cheap since it is sourced from the sun)," he said.
Cayatoc explained that solar power projects will help fill in the needs of the residents in the island-towns.
“Itong solar ay akma ito doon sa mga island municipalities, sa isla ng Cuyo, Cagayancillo, at maging dito sa mainland. Kung ma-in place ang solar mas maganda ito kaysa sa diesel (This solar energy is suitable for island municipalities and also in the mainland. If we can put it in place, it is better than diesel)," he said.
Cayatoc further said that another renewable energy power prospect in Palawan is the 6.8-megawatt mini-hydro power project of Langogan Power Corp. (LPC) in Langogan River, Barangay Langogan, Puerto Princesa City.
He said all the documents of the LPC have already been approved at their level and forwarded to the regional environment office for approval.
The LPC has also entered a Forest Land Use Agreement with DENR for its project site.
It has already forged a power supply agreement with the Palawan Electric Cooperative (PALECO), making it the first renewable energy technology in Palawan. (PNA)
