In a significant stride towards a stable, cheaper, sustainable, and greener energy source, the provincial government of Davao Oriental has entered into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with power generation company Dy Green Energy to explore the development of Davao Oriental’s first 50-megawatt (MW) solar power plant.

The historic signing ceremony held earlier today, September 16, at the Tourism Complex, City of Mati, Davao Oriental, was graced by esteemed dignitaries, including His Excellency Mr. Hoang Huy Chung, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to the Republic of the Philippines, who expressed his support for the project.

HIGHLIGHTS

The agreement signed by Governor Niño Sotero L. Uy, Jr., on behalf of the provincial government, and Mr. King Shing Donny Yeung, the operation manager of the company Dy Green Energy, paves the way for the development of a state-of-the-art 50-megawatt Solar Power Generation Plant in the province. This landmark project will not only meet the increasing energy demands and address power outages in the province but will also generate jobs and boost investments and tourism.

Based on the MOA, the Solar Power Generation Plant will be strategically situated on a 40-hectare land in Barangay Maputi in the municipality of Banaybanay, which the provincial government will acquire and, in turn, lease to the company for a period of fifteen years.

During its operation, the company will supply power to the Davao Oriental Electric Cooperative (DORECO) through a Power Supply Agreement and is anticipated to generate clean electricity that will power tens of thousands of homes and businesses in the province.

With both parties underscoring their commitment to fast-track the implementation of the project, the project is set to begin as soon as the acquisition of the land has been completed and the company has obtained the required permits and licenses to operate.

Atty. Marissa P. Cerezo, Director IV of the Renewable Energy Management Bureau of the Department of Energy, congratulated the province as she committed the department’s support for the project, particularly in the processing of necessary permits, requirements, and contracts. She said she is happy to see that local governments are now turning to renewable energy which aligns with the state policy to promote the utilization of renewable energy in order to reduce dependence on imported energy.

“We are very happy that renewable energy resources are becoming very attractive to our investors in this country and we promote more renewable energy as we see problems in electricity rising considering we have a lot of indigenous resources. We wish that more of these renewable energies will be put up,” she said.

IMPACTS

In his message, Governor Uy expressed his enthusiasm for the project, highlighting the long-term benefits it would bring to Davao Oriental. “This is a positive and welcome development for all of us here in Davao Oriental, especially since we have been experiencing problems with electricity and power supply. And I think this is a very important undertaking that we have today because we cannot proceed in our development efforts, especially our socio-economic initiatives if we have problems in our power supply,” he said.

“I cannot thank you (the investors) enough for investing here, for giving your trust and confidence, and for pouring your resources into the province of Davao Oriental. With this, we can proceed with all the plans that we have, especially since one of the flagship programs that we are pushing is the development of our tourism industry. And of course, these all boil down to the very objective of this administration which is to uplift the quality of life of our people.”

“The MOA signing gives us hope and a positive outlook for the province of Davao Oriental as this will also generate employment and contribute to the economic development of Davao Oriental. This is not just for both our parties but we are here to represent our people. We want to protect, promote, and advance the welfare of our people,” he said.

Aside from the economic benefits, the soon-to-be-realized solar power is a significant milestone in the province’s journey towards a greener and more sustainable future. Through this partnership, the abundant solar energy potential of Davao Oriental considered the sunrise capital of the Philippines, will be harnessed, contributing significantly to reducing carbon emissions and combatting climate change. Solar power is known for its environmental benefits, as it produces zero greenhouse gas emissions during electricity generation.

Building on the work that was started during the late Governor Corazon N. Malanyaon’s tenure, the solar power plant project is being continued by the present administration of Governor Uy. By Karen Lou Deloso | Photos by Francis Jay Butulan