P1.3-B solar facility to rise in South Cotabato

SOUTH COTABATO, Philippines  – Officials on Wednesday launched a P1.3 billion worth solar power project in Surallah town to improve the area’s investment climate and agricultural productivity, stymied by shortage of electricity.

South Cotabato Gov. Daisy Avance-Fuentes and Surallah municipal officials led the launching of the ten-megawatt facility in Barangay Centrala, which is surrounded by vast swaths of lands planted with rice and corn.

The project is a joint initiative of the local government unit of Surallah and the NV Vogt-Philippines Solar Energy One Inc., a major developer of renewable energy sources. 

The firm’s project manager, Reynaldo Casas, said the first phase of the facility will immediately provide five-megawatts of power to the South Cotabato Electric Cooperative, which will distribute electricity to local consumers.

Casas said the facility will produce five more megawatts of power once completed.

Fuentes said the solar power project is the answer to the worsening power shortage in South Cotabato.