• CHERYL G. CRUZ
The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Negros Occidental has approved Sept. 2 an updated resolution endorsing to the Department of Energy the plan of Sagay City to develop a four-megawatt lower hydro power project.
The project, being eyed near Barangay Dian-ay in Escalante City, and barangays Puey, Maquiling, and Baviera in Sagay, is in support of the government’s initiative to increase the renewable energy (RE) mix by 35 percent by year 2030.
Second District Board Member Pal Guanzon, who authored the updated resolution along with BM Laurence Marxlen Dela Cruz of the 1st District, said that this initiative of Sagay “is a laudable undertaking to tap all available resources for RE development and distribution”.
The project could make Sagay self-sufficient, sustainable, affordable, and responsive to the growing base load consumer demand, the resolution stressed.
Guanzon, chairperson of the SP Committee on Laws, Rules and Ordinances, noted that Sagay had initially shown interest to develop portion of Himogaan River for a hydroelectric project in 2019.
The sanggunian also supported that proposal, but it did not materialize, hence the updated resolution.
Guanzon said the resolution of support aims to “propel and hasten the production of quantifiable RE as part of the targets” under Republic Act 9513, which promotes the development, utilization, and commercialization of RE resources. | CGC
