PRRD inaugurates 7.5MWp solar power plant in Romblon

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte leads the inauguration of the 7.5-MWP Tumingad Solar Power Project in the Municipality of Odiongan, Tablas Island in Romblon on August 21, 2019. (Screenshot from Video: Presidential Communications (Government of the Philippines)/Facebook)

MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday led the inauguration of the 7.5MWp Tumingad solar power project in Odiongan, Tablas Island, Romblon as he noted the importance of providing more households electricity but at the same time reducing carbon footprint.

Duterte hailed the solar power project as a “milestone” in the use of renewable energy since it causes less devastation to the environment.

He noted that since he assumed office, it has been his administration’s firm policy to safeguard the environment for future generations.

“I am pleased to join you today in inaugurating this hybrid solar diesel-powered plant that will pave the way to a greener tomorrow for Romblon and the rest of the country. This is indeed a milestone not only for the people of the province but for our environment as well,” Duterte said in his speech.

Veering away from his speech, Duterte pointed out that solar power does not produce harmful emissions into the air when electricity is produced.

“There’s always waste, however, you justify it, there’s always a waste of everything except solar,” Duterte said.

Duterte acknowledged that although coal and oil power plants are considered cheaper to build, it causes more damage to the environment.

“As of now mas mura (it’s cheaper) if you just go with oil and coal in the meantime. Coal, meron tayo (we have) but it destroys. You cannot have it all. You get one, you lose one. You have a cheap power plant, coal, oil, but the carbon, the fossil fuel leaves a lot of carbon footprint in the country and I do not know how it would impact on the next generation,” Duterte said.

He also thanked Sunwest Water and Electric Company, solar power project developer, for providing a clean and green source of energy in Tablas Island.

“Projects such as this complement the government’s aim to fast-track the development of renewable energy sources in the country and in the process reduce our nation’s dependence of traditional energy sources including coal,” Duterte said.

Duterte, meanwhile, criticized Canada anew for illegally dumping waste in the Philippines in 2013.

“I’d like to say to the Western countries, do not make us a garbage dump. You know, you might be more powerful, more and more developed and rich but your wealth does not translate into something like making other nations, sa Bisaya daog-daog, api-api (in the Visayan dialect, oppressed),” Duterte said.

The PHP550-million Tumingad solar power plant is considered as the first and largest hybrid solar-diesel microgrid with battery in the Philippines.

Upon utilization, it is projected to save PHP180 million from the universal charge-missionary electrification subsidy per year and light up around 43,400 households in the whole island.