LAOAG CITY—The province of Ilocos Norte is hosting another big-ticket project on hybrid renewable energy under a lease agreement between the provincial government and the Alba Renewables Philippines Corp.
Spanning about 100 hectares of pastureland, locally known as the Dungon-Dungon Estate in Brgy. Baruyen in Bangui and Brgy. Nagsurot in neighboring Burgos, the government-owned lot covering a total land area of 256.88 hectares has been underutilized for a long time.
Recognizing its potential for renewable energy, the provincial government, through the Ilocos Norte Trade and Investment Office (INvest Office), has identified several government-owned properties eligible for lease, subject to feasibility, availability, and policy determination.
This includes the Dungon-Dungon Estate, which matched an investor willing to develop the property if found feasible.
INvest Office head Ronaleigh Bueno said in that to formalize the agreement, a ceremonial contract signing is set for Sept. 8.
“The project is expected to create jobs, provide training for local residents, generate lease revenues for the provincial government, and extend assistance to host Barangays,” she said.
According to Bueno, the first hybrid plant to be established in the province intends to have wind and solar generation capabilities, with an accompanying battery energy storage solution system that would harness the natural conditions of Bangui and Burgos, where existing solar and wind power farms are located.
She said this initiative would strengthen Ilocos Norte’s position as the country’s renewable energy capital.
Recently, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan approved the grant of special incentives to attract more investors aligned with the province’s top priority industries.
This includes the leasing of underutilized government properties for up to five years to eligible developers and operators of economic zones and industrial estates.
Eligible for this are food and agriculture, tourism and creative industries, manufacturing, renewable energy, information technology and business process management, services, and mining and quarrying.
(Leilanie G. Adriano)
