Ilocos Norte dads blast 4.9MW solar project in Burgos

By Leilanie G. Adriano

Staff reporter

Laoag City—A 4.9 megawatt solar project of the Energy Development Corp. (EDC) in Burgos town, about 49 kilometers from Laoag City is ready for testing and commissioning anytime but members of the Ilocos Norte Sangguniang Panlalawigan refused to endorse it after EDC failed to seek the provincial government’s endorsement prior to its construction.

Under Provincial Ordinance No. 010-2014, project proponents and investors in Ilocos Norte are now required to sign a memorandum of agreement with the Ilocos Norte government, incorporating their specific plans and projects pertaining to corporate social responsibility (CSR).

This came out following the investment boom in the province yet there has been minimal returns felt by its host communities.

In accordance with Republic Act No. 9513, also known as the Renewable Energy Act of 2008, it states that all energy explorations, development, utilization and renewable energy systems or operations shall comply with existing environment regulations as prescribed by the DENR and other concerned government agencies.

Despite having secured a Certificate of Registration No. SESC 2014-07-088 issued by the Department of Energy, SP member Atty. Vicente Lazo said, “Endorsement should have been sought prior to its construction” as mandated by the CSR ordinance. 

On February 20, 2015, the EDC wrote a letter to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan requesting for the favorable endorsement of the solar project that is now 100 percent completed.

“This is a sign of disrespect, placing the cart before the horse,” Mr. Lazo lamented.

On March 9, 2015, the provincial board passed Resolution No. 2015-03-111 condemning the act of EDC in constructing and putting into operation its Burgos solar project without first securing endorsement from the Ilocos Norte government.

For his part, Reman Chua, project manager of the Burgos project said in an earlier committee hearing held at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan session hall on March 5 that the company sincerely apologized for its “misstep” and that the company recognized its failure to secure the SP endorsement.

The board has also questioned EDC’s construction of “overpriced” hand washing facilities last year as part of its corporate social responsibility in support of health and sanitation projects when EDC constructed its 150-MW wind power farm in the same town.

From January to June in 2014, the same firm had initially allotted P1.8 million for the construction of public toilets in at least 12 schools in Laoag City during the construction of its transmission lines connecting to the grid.

Aside from this, at least 25 out of the 55 toilets were also promised by the EDC to put up in 2014 and the remaining 35 shall be constructed in the coming years but until now, only a few were set up and some are already reported not functioning. Each hand washing facility costs P180, 000.

According to Mr. Chua, EDC has commissioned a contractor to construct the hand washing facilities to identified schools in the province. He assured they will look into the proper implementation of its CSR project.