DOE, private firm to study if Cebu has wind energy

CEBU, Philippines - To determine if Cebu City has the capability to produce wind energy, a private company is set to conduct a study in Sitio Cantipla, Barangay Tabunan as soon as possible.

Amihan Energy Corporation, through its construction manager Stjepan Radicevic, is asking the permission of the Cebu City government to build an 80-meter Wind Measuring Tower System in the area to be used as an instrument of the study.

“Because of the urgent need to proceed and complete wind energy study according to the pre-development stage, and proceed with second stage to deve-lop first Wind Power Farm in Province of Cebu especially Cebu City, we are requesting your good office for a special permit for the construction and erection of 80 meter Wind Mast To-wer,” Radicevic, in a letter to the city government, requested.

The system is a national project of the Department of Energy and Cebu City is one of the chosen sites, which Amihan, in partnership with the national agency, will undertake.

The tower, also called wind mast, will be constructed on Block No. 307, a lot leased by DOE to the company.

Secretary to the Mayor Belinda Navascues said that the two-year study will help determine if the city can produce wind energy and eventually help the country considering its problem on energy supply.

“Makatabang definitely sa atong energy source kay we will be self-contained in the island,” she said, adding, “ug mas masobra pa gani, we can even help  our neighboring islands because we know the Philippines  right now is short of energy, so we might be part of the solution,” she said.

The company is just waiting for the go signal of Mayor Michael Rama, said Navascues, after already getting the nod of the Cebu provincial government, which owns part of the lot actually located at the boundary of Cebu City and Cebu pro-vince.

“The proposed construction and installation of wind energy facilities seeks to generate clean renewable energy for Cebu,” Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III stated in his letter of approval.

According to Davide, the wind farm will not only create employment opportunities but also make the barangay a tourist area. — Mechelle P. Florita/NSA (FREEMAN)