• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Citicore Renewable Energy Corp. (CREC) on Wednesday (April 24) said that it is taking steps to implement dust control measures in response to the complaints of residents living near its project site in Silay City, Negros Occidental.
Citicore is constructing a 69-megawatt solar power plant in Barangay E. Lopez, adjacent to Barangay Rizal, where the complainants are residing.
In a statement, it said that “(w)hile dust control measures, such as daily soil watering have been in place since the start of the project, the intense dry weather condition brought about by El Niño phenomenon, is creating higher levels of dust than normal.”
“We are implementing enhanced measures through the installation of dust nets adjacent to residential areas and limiting speed for vehicles,” the solar power company added.
Residents of two sub-villages in Barangay Rizal are complaining about the health hazard caused by too much dust from the ongoing construction of the solar farm.
They complained of having suffered from the dust for two months.
Citicore said that it will use molasses to thicken the soil to lessen the dry particles that can be blown in the wind.
It also rained on Tuesday after a long period of heat so it will significantly lessen the dust, it added.
“We are in touch with the barangay and local government unit to provide assistance for affected members of the community, including medical missions and other assistance to the nearby communities,” Citicore also said.
“This is an isolated case in our construction of solar plants. We assure the community that we are working round-the-clock to the address this issue and request for their cooperation,” the company said. | GB
