Three towns in Iloilo namely Ajuy, Concepcion, and Carles are looking for available renewable energy resources in their area after entering a partnership with the Department of Energy (DOE) for the department’s Development of Renewable Energy Applications Mainstreaming and Market Sustainability (DREAMS) project.
The DREAMS project aims to promote the commercialization of renewable energy markets and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the power industry.
DOE Undersecretary Felix William Fuentebella said officers of local government units will be responsible for the identification of the resources, while the local government units will prepare a spatial plan, as well as the type of renewable energy source.
“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 was quoted as saying in a Philippine News Agency report.
There will also be an energy expert group within the local government unit to handle energy resources matters, added Fuentebella.
LGUs should also prepare a comprehensive development plan.
“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.
DOE Renewable Energy Management Bureau director Mylene Capongol said the three towns “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 explained.
She added that the towns could develop a micro-hydro system.
“We have partnered with the academe to resurrect the micro-hydro project there,” she said.
