WITH the P5-billion 133-megawatt Cagayan North Solar project finished and starting to operate in Lal-lo, Cagayan, regional officials expressed optimism about the economic and investment opportunities of the northern towns.
The prediction came as the 225-hectare facility is touted to generate 188 gigawatt-hours of electricity annually, which is enough to lit up 45,000 houses and cut about 128,000 metric tons of carbon emissions per year.
Cagayan province’s first utility-scale solar project has been put up by ACEN Corp., the listed energy unit of the Ayala Group, which has expanded its renewable energy (RE) footprint in the region. It is being developed by CleanTech Renewable Energy 4 Corp. ACEN owns 60 percent of Cagayan North Solar while the 40 percent belongs to CleanTech.
The Cagayan North Solar project farm. PHOTO FROM ACEN
Lal-lo Mayor Florante Pascual said the solar project’s income, a 1-percent share, will add revenues to the region and be divided among the province, town and villages where it is operating. “The company has also allocated funds for corporate social responsibility for Lal-lo villagers,” he added.
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One project already funded by the company includes the construction of classrooms at the Bical National High School worth P14 million, which could accommodate 200 students. Others are the two multipurpose gymnasiums in Magapit and Santa Maria villages worth P4 million each.
Thousands of villagers in the town and nearby areas were given jobs during the construction of the project aside from having selected workers during its actual operation, Pascual said. Local and foreign investors would come in due to the availability of power, he added. “Our constituents need jobs so factories will be put up here and foreign investors will be helping provide opportunities. Our local government unit cannot absorb all graduates,” he said.
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ACEN President and CEO Eric Francia said the Cagayan North Solar is the first RE project in Cagayan to supply clean power to the Luzon grid. “As electricity demand continues to grow, this project plays a vital role in strengthening the country’s energy supply through reliable and sustainable generation,” he said.
CleanTech Global Renewables Inc. President and CEO Salvador Antonio Castro Jr. said the project is “more than just an energy source, it’s a symbol of progress. By delivering clean, renewable electricity to the grid, it strengthens the Philippines’ energy resilience while reducing carbon emissions.”
