TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol (PIA) –By November of this year, if another calamity that cuts off Bohol from the rest of the Visayas Grid, there would be no blackouts anymore.
This as Governor Erico Aristotle Aumentado succeeds in convincing a company to put a solar power, thus renewable energy (RE) facility that can complement the few island-based generation facilities in making Bohol get its own power requirements from within.
With the completion and eventual commission and operation of the 27 megawatts direct-current (MWdc) solar farming facility in San Vicente, Dagohoy Bohol, the province of Bohol can now produce its own energy to power its domestic and industrial requirements, when on stand-alone capacity.
During its installation of the first solar array, of the 36,000 solar panels to be laid out in 22 hectares of solar farm, PetroGreen Energy Corporation (PGEC) Vice President Paul Morala confirmed that with the facility in operation, they can directly supply Bohol with their stored energy, until the lines can be restored and Bohol can be tapped back to the grid.
Upon his assumption as governor of Bohol, then Congressman Erico Aristotle Aumentado promised to find ways to get power investors locate in Bohol and asked the local legislative body to fast-track the revisiting of the Bohol Investment Code.
This is so that he can offer incentives to those who pour capital into an island based facility, preferably from renewable and clean energy source, which Bohol totally lacks.
Bohol used to be largely dependent upon the geothermal power which Leyte supplies, until calamities snapped the lines from the Leyte source to Bohol, and the National Grid Corporation established its One Grid program putting up the Visayas energy pool.
In September of 2022, Yuchengco-led PetroEnergy Resources Corp. and its renewable energy division PGEC broke ground for what will be the first solar farm in Bohol.
Having secured a Department of Energy operating contract for a 27.5 megawatts of direct-current solar facility in the rolling hills of San Vicente and Santa Cruz in Dagohoy, Bohol, PGEC Officials led by its President and Chief Executive Officer Francisco Delfin Jr., and Chairman Milagros Reyes, joined Gov Aumentado and Dagohoy Mayor Dr. Herminio Relampagos in installing the first solar array of the facility that would be supplying power to the Visayas Grid from Bohol.
“This is a testament of PetroGreen’s dedication to the province to provide clean and renewable power and is a great addition to the power supply sourced locally here,” Aumentado said.
Bohol also keeps land based generation facilities in Hanopol hydroelectric, Sevilla Hydroelectric, Loboc Hydroelectric and the Bohol Diesel Power Plant in Dampas District, but the old facilities have been under-rated and could only produce a fraction of their rated capacities upon their commissioning.
Even if these facilities supply the Visayas Grid, they can be kept in when Bohol is cut-off from the Visayas energy pool.
“As a triumph of public and private partnership, the project would be called Dagohoy Green Energy Corporation and would be helping the community improve its economic conditions,” according to Yrel Venture PetroGreen’s Assistant Vice President for Environment and Corporate social responsibility.
Another highlight during the ceremony was the launching of PGEC’s Health, Education, Livelihood Program as its corporate social responsibility.
Here, community representatives. Local officials and the PGEC officials signed their pledge of support to the Teacher’s Training Program of Dagohoy public school teachers teaching mathematics and science with the Department of Education.
Also launched was the College Scholarship Grant Program for deserving students from Dagohoy and studying at the state college, in partnership with the Dagohoy Local Government.
For the environment and community livelihood, PGEC also pledges support for Dagohoy Rattan Enhancement and Management Project with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and Barangay San Vicente. (rahc/PIA7/Bohol)
