Locals to get livelihood from Burgos wind power in Philippines

Residents in Burgos town where Southeast Asia’s biggest wind farm sits stand to get P1 million-worth of livelihood from the wind power project developer Energy Development Corporation (EDC).

At least 124 recipients from Burgos’ three host villages namely, Saoit, Poblacion and Nagsurot will benefit from the 150 MW wind facility as part of EDC’s corporate social responsibility (CSR).

The project will serve as income replacement to locals since most of them were the victims of Typhoon Mario which struck the province in  September last year.

According to Eric Pascua, Ilocos Norte’s head for Investment office, about P1 million of the total amount accounts for the EDC commitment to provide development and livelihood fund to the host province once it started selling electricity to the market.

Since November last year, the Burgos wind project with a construction cost of US$450 million has started selling electricity to the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM).

Meanwhile, the Laoag City government has also received three service cars from the EDC and the North Luzon Renewable Energy Corporation (NLREC) which are part of the fulfillment of the companies’ CSR to the province.

Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos during the opening of another wind farm project in Brgy. Caparispisan Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte had reminded investors of their commitment to fulfill their CSR.

“With all due respect and I’m certain you will understand, it is important that even as you proceed with your project for energy and renewable power, you also commit to the community in which you live and work. By this I mean that perhaps corporate social responsibility as outmoded and wieldy at it is, must come into play,” Marcos said.