By Helen Castaño | 12:26 PM May 10, 2024
Bohol will soon use energy from the sun through its own solar power plant after first row of solar panels was installed yesterday afternoon, May 9, 2024 in Barangay San Vicente in Dagohoy town.
The P1.2 billion Dagohoy Solar Power Project (DSPP) of the Yuchengco-led PetroGreen Energy Corporation ( PGEC) in will supply 27 megawatts to more than 15,000 households on the island.
Once operational in the fourth quarter of 2024, it will be the first solar power plant in Bohol.
Thursday’s event was attended by provincial and local leaders and stakeholders.
According to Bohol Gov. Aris Aumentado, theproject is beneficial to the province of Bohol, which for a long time depends on imported power from Leyte and Cebu provinces.
“I am happy because this is a big help in the province in Bohol. Because we can’t invite investors without power,” he said.
PGEC chief executive officer and President Francisco Delfin Jr expressed the company’s firm commitment to making DSPP the first utility-scale solar power facility in Bohol.
“Our goal is not just to generate power, but our goal is to reduce poverty and generate prosperity for many Filipinos,” he said.
Delfin added that PetroGreen Energy Corporation (PGEC) and its subsidiaries, as service contractors of the Department of Energy (DOE), are addressing interrelated power shortage and climate issues.
The project is especially beneficial to Bohol province, which for a long time has been dependent on imported power from neighboring islands.
Bohol does not have its own power supply and is dependent on Leyte province.
PGEC and RGEC also launched its We Power H.E.L.P. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Program on May 9, with particular focus on teachers training program, scholarship grants, and livelihood initiatives promoting enhancement and management of rattan in DSPP’s host communities.
“We are thrilled with the developments in DSPP and the municipality of Dagohoy is proud to host this very important project,” said Dagohoy Mayor Hermie Relampagos.
“We are positive that this project will not only boost Dagohoy’s economic status but most importantly, enhance the lives of Dagohoynons. Right now, the project construction has generated significant additional jobs for residents and led to new small- scale businesses in Dagohoy,” adds Mayor Relampagos.
PGEC, the renewable energy unit of publicly-listed PetroEnergy Resources Corporation, is a joint venture with Japan’s Kyuden International Corporation. RGEC is a partnership between PGEC and TAISEI Corporation of Japan.
