TAYABAS CITY, Quezon – Sangguniang Panlungsod (legislative council) Majority Floor Leader Councilor Wenda Saberola is pushing for the establishment of a 20-megawatt Solar Energy Plant through the Public-Private Partnership for the People (P4) project.
In her privilege speech Monday at the legislative session, Saberola said the P4 solar energy project will be undertaken through the partnership with Polaris Solar Plant, which is owned by AM Rev Prelude 6375 LLC, a company based in California, USA.
“Alam naman natin kaya nagmamahal ang ating kuryente ay dahil sa kakulangan ng suplay nito, so kung ang ating ma-pro-produce na Energy from this Solar Plant, will be accepted or bibilhin ng ating mga distributor ng electricity not only in Quezon but in the (Calabarzon) Region, so makikita natin na malaking tulong ito para mapamura ‘yung kuryente (We are aware of the high cost of electricity due to insufficient supply, and if we could produce solar energy from this plant, the sold solar energy or as distributed among consumers not only in Quezon but in the Calabarzon Region, this could help in bringing down the electricity cost),” Saberola said.
“Kapag na-aprobahan na ang naturang proyekto at mabigyan na ng pondo ng nabanggit na private partner madali na sa local government na makahanap ng lupa para sa naturang project (if this project would be approved and given the needed funds by the private partner firm, it would be easier for the local government to acquire the lot as site for the project),” Saberola added.
She referred to the private firm’s requirement for a 10-hectare site which the city government could readily offer in view of the vast expanse of the proposed site for the 20-M solar energy plant.
The city councilor also said the local government unit (LGU) would be spared from additional expenditures because it guarantees the lot as share in the joint project undertaking and if this would not be as successful, the lot would be reverted back to the city government for the lot’s future use.
She also said the project could contribute to hike the city’s revenues and generate more jobs for the Tayabasins (city residents).
“This would also pave the way to reduce expenses for electricity consumption by the city government due to additional supply of cheaper solar energy cost from the energy distribution company.
On revenues, Saberola said that the city government would earn from the taxes due besides the income-sharing scheme by the private partner energy firm and the city government.
Meanwhile, Councilor Mapet Jacela expressed support to the solar energy project as this would be an added income for the city and would create more jobs.
Vice Mayor Nick Abesamis, as presiding officer of the City Council, and all other city councilors have signified approval for the said project after weighing the cost-benefit analysis and cited the solar energy plant is not destructive to the environment.
Saberola added that aside from the Solar Power Plant, she is also proposing for the construction of a Power Plant Park as an educational tourism and tour site.
Abesamis also led the City Council in approving the resolution granting authority for Mayor Ernida A. Reynoso to enter into a Memorandum of Agreement between Tayabas City government and the private solar energy firm partner. (PNA)
