Wind farm steadily progressing
The wind farm project atop the mountain is the hottest issue in the island of Mindoro. Probably not only because of the P6 billion price tag but its wide-ranging impact to the community.
It started way back in 2006 when Nicanor Villasenor, the former president of Philippine Hybrid Energy Systems, Inc or PHESI came to town and presented a very ambitious Wind Energy Power System to be installed on top of the mountain of Tabinay and Baclayan.
Initially, the project was worth P1.7 billion with a capacity of 18-megawatt but 6 years later, it ballooned to P6 billion and with a capacity of 48-megawatt, making it one of the biggest wind farm projects in the country. The plan was to build the project in 3 stages of 16-megawatt each.
Puerto Galera needs around 6-megawatt during peak season while the entire province has a maximum power consumption of only 43-megawatt. Clearly, there is an over-supply of electricity with the current power suppliers and even more once the PHESI project is completed. However, the long term plan is to sell the excess power to the Luzon grid. Prior to this, a submarine cable connection must be installed to link up the Luzon grid to the ORMECO grid which the electric cooperative said is now underway being a priority project of President Rodrigo Duterte.
The ground-breaking ceremony of the wind farm project was held in 2012, attended by then former Mayor Hubbert Christopher Dolor, Governor Alfonso Umali, Congressman RGV and many provincial and municipal VIPs. It was during the term of the former Mayor when the permits and clearances were issued, and sometime in 2015, PHESI started the road construction leading to the site where the first 8 wind towers will be established.
PHESI employed hundreds of Mangyan workers who are being paid high salary rates compared to what are normally given to them. They also spent millions of pesos to acquire all the right of way for the access road leading to the 1,296-hectare wind farm site.
Upon becoming the Mayor, Rockey Ilagan ordered a review and had a series of dialogue with PHESI to get acquainted with the project. The new Mayor reportedly did not receive from his predecessor any documents about the wind energy project. Mayor Ilagan concerned about the environmental impact, at first, approved a cease and desist order which was later lifted upon PHESI’s compliance of the requirements.
One such condition was the submission of a comprehensive program to solve the siltation, soil erosion and pollution of the nearby coastal water.
The program includes the establishment of silt booms, silt ponds, drainage canals and slope protection measures including reforestation and planting of vetiver grass which is known as the most effective and natural method in preventing soil erosion and siltation.
PHESI explained that the silt boom could have been installed many months ago but a group of fishermen prevented them. Mayor Ilagan later convinced the fishermen to allow the putting in place of the silt boom as a necessary measure against siltation.
PHESI further described how they plan to stop soil erosion using vetiver grass to be planted along the road and in critical areas. The reason Vetiver works so well for erosion control is it produces a massive root system that grows straight down rather than out from the plant. It creates a sort of curtain beneath the soil, trapping sediment and slowing down the movement of water and earth.
Aside from this, Mayor Ilagan also urged PHESI to fast-track and make good of their commitments to the Mangyan community. In response, PHESI is now building a community center for the Mangyans complete with a new Barangay Hall, health clinic and basketball court expected to be finished before April 2017.
The Puerto Galera wind farm is expected to become another major tourist spot of the island, and like other windmills in the Philippines, is expected to draw more visitors both locals and foreign due to its fantastic panoramic view of the Verde Island Passage, neighboring towns and islands.
