Wind energy to propel Mindoro island

Filipino officials and business leaders believe this kind of project can be replicated in various areas of the country, and reduce the cost of electricity which can help propel the country to greater heights of development.

A 48-megawatt (MW) wind farm project will soon installed in Mindoro Island to substantially serve the energy needs of its growing business, manufacturing and tourism businesses and related industries and the people of Mindoro, particularly its oriental side.

With the operation of the three-phased energy project to be undertaken by the Philippine Highbred Energy Systems Inc. (PHESI), which is called Wind Energy Power System (WEPS), Mindoro will soon have the power to propel its forward lurch towards development.

The wind-powered energy project has a total cost of R6 billion to underwrite its three component stages, each at the cost of P2 billion.

A brainchild of the Oriental Mindoro First District Rep. Rodolfo G. Valencia, considered as the Father of Renewable Energy in Oriental Mindoro, the 48-MW project is the second of its kind in the country. The first was the facility in Bangui, Ilocos Norte.

Valencia was recently cited as “Most Outstanding Congressman in the Philippines”, by the Publishers Association of the Philippines,Inc. (PAPI).

Gracing the groundbreaking rites for the project held in Puer to G alera la st S ept. 7, were Itallian Ambassador to the Philippines Luca Formari and Engr. Amando Di Rossi, chairman of the CMC Asia, Inc., an Italian power firm. Di Rossi is also the chief executive officer of the Philippine Hybrid Energy Systems, Inc. (PHESI).

The other guests representing the Philippine government included Department of Energy Secretary Jose Rene Almendras, Mindoro 2nd Dist. Rey V. Umali, Mindoro Gov. Alfonso V. Umali, representatives from the Spanish contracting firm Gamesa Eolica, officials of foreign governments’ tourism agencies, other foreign luminaries and some Filipino investors.

Di Rosi, who is a professional and licensed civil engineer will manage the operations of the project that has the support of the Oriental Mindoro’s Provincial Development Council. It has also the imprimatur of the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines and other government agencies.

The energy project facility site is located in the mountain village of Baclayan which overlooks Puerto Galera’s scenic resorts and coves. It has an area of 1,296 hectares.