ALTERNATIVE ENERGY. Department of Energy (DOE) Undersecretary Felix William Fuentebella (left) says on Tuesday (Feb. 18, 2020) that three Iloilo towns will scout renewable energy resources for the DOE’s Development of Renewable Energy Applications Mainstreaming and Market Sustainability project. The towns of Ajuy, Concepcion and Carles are DOE's partner local governments after it entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with Iloilo province for the project implementation. (PNA photo by Gail Momblan)
ILOILO CITY -- The towns of Ajuy, Concepcion and Carles in the province of Iloilo are looking for available renewable energy resources in their areas as partner local government units of the Department of Energy (DOE).
This, as the province of Iloilo and the DOE, has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Tuesday for the DOE’s Development of Renewable Energy Applications Mainstreaming and Market Sustainability (DREAMS) project.
The DOE, in partnership with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and Global Environment Facility (GEF), will implement the project to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions of the power industry by promoting and facilitating the commercialization of renewable energy markets through the removal of barriers.
DOE Undersecretary Felix William Fuentebella said in an interview that local government units’ planning officers will be the ones to identify the resources.
The local government units have to prepare the spatial plan and the type of renewable energy resource.
“The spatial plan means the map where the resources of Iloilo are located and the resources we are looking for. It can be biomass, geothermal, solar, hydro, or ocean (and) wind resources that we can use for renewable energy and for productive uses of the farmers, fisherfolk, health workers, (and) teachers,” he said.
The DOE undersecretary also stressed the establishment of an energy expert group in a local government unit, as mandated in the local government code, to handle matters on energy and resources.
Aside from the spatial plan, the local government units have to prepare a comprehensive development plan, he said.
“It is because when we put up these plants and these resources, we create income for the community. The host community will be included in the benefits like the building of roads, health centers, school buildings, and livelihood projects, reforestation, watershed management,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mylene Capongol, director of DOE’s Renewable Energy Management Bureau, said the towns of Carles, Concepcion, and Ajuy “have resources that are not yet tapped.”
“We are seeing a huge potential for renewable energy development and our objective is to come up with more sustainable energy services for our fellowmen,” she said in an interview.
She said the three towns can potentially develop a micro-hydro system. “We have partnered with the academe to resurrect the micro-hydro project there,” she said.
Lawyer Suzette Mamon, Iloilo provincial administrator, said that the local government units are currently in the planning stage. “We are now in the legwork,” she said, adding that the local government units are doing the local needs assessment already to determine their needs and sources.
Fuentabella said the DOE is extending assistance to the three towns during the planning stage.
Once established, he said the resources will be for residential, commercial and even industrial uses. (PNA)
