THE Cebu Provincial Government is set to purchase privately owned lots in Daanbantayan town, northern Cebu, to pave the way for the construction of a solar power plant.
At least 56 lot owners in Barangay Talisay, Daanbantayan, were informed about the Capitol’s intention to purchase their land during a meeting held at the Capitol on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024.
The solar power plant project is a joint venture between the Capitol and Spanish company Acciona Energia Global and Freya Renewables. It requires 185 hectares of land, and the proposed project location covers the properties of the 56 landowners.
The power plant project is expected to generate 150 megawatts of electricity, significantly enhancing the government’s power supply capacity.
Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia said the Department of Energy views the project as a priority since it will help Central Visayas meet its growing power demand.
To recall, the nearby island of Panay suffered extensive and protracted power outages for three days in early January and subsequent outages two weeks later after many power plants on the island tripped.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. even made a statement about the seriousness of the situation, pointing out that the first wave of outages caused P3.8 billion in economic losses in Iloilo province alone and that the people living and working there had to endure countless inconveniences as a result of the lack of electricity.
According to legal regulations governing potential expropriation proceedings, the owners of Daanbantayan lots will get “just compensation” for their holdings.
Daanbantayan Mayor Sun Shimura gave the people assurances that the local government would assist them by giving them priority in housing and relocation initiatives. Provincial environmental expert lawyer Ben Cabrido Jr. and the barangay officials of Talisay also attended the meeting on Tuesday. (TPT with PR)