Wind, solar projects in Subic backed
SUBIC BAY FREEPORT—Business groups and residents opposed to a coal-fired power plant for Subic have urged President Aquino to invest instead in alternative energy for the freeport.
Former Environment Undersecretary Gregorio Magdaraog, coconvenor of the Subic Anticoal Coalition, said the Aquino administration may use Subic to promote its alternative energy policies to avoid destroying the freeport’s tourism appeal.
In various public consultations last year, Energy Secretary Jose Rene Almendras said the 600-megawatt coal-fired power plant would be needed to keep Luzon’s power supply steady in the near future.
The plant will be built and managed by RP Energy Inc. (RPEI), a consortium composed of Aboitiz Power, Manila Electric Co. and Taiwan Cogen Corp.
There are projects in the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) pipeline that the government could tap to build an alternative energy model for Subic, according to a freeport official who requested anonymity because he was not authorized to speak on the subject.
The official cited the contracts approved under the present SBMA board with the Energy Logics Group Inc., the Hydro China Subic Ltd Corp. and the Energy Logics Philippines Inc. All these projects have a combined committed power supply of 503 MW.
These projects, which amount to $1.188 billion in investments, could provide the amount of power to the Luzon grid in place of RPEI’s coal-fired plant, the official said.
“We commend and endorse the implementation of a $450-million solar and wind power energy project that [the board] signed with Hydro China that will showcase Subic Bay Freeport as a center for renewable energy,” Magdaraog said in the statement.
SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia, in a recent roundtable discussion with Inquirer editors and correspondents, said Hydro China had put up two wind towers in the freeport so it could record the strength and frequency of wind in the area in preparation for the project.
Garcia said the tests, which would last a year, are proceeding smoothly.
“It looks okay because the towers are in a high altitude area,” he said.
At least 155 representatives of local governments, the zone’s business locators, freeport workers and residents rejected the coal-fired power plant project when they participated in a mandated Social Acceptability Process (SAP) in December last year.
The SAP results had been submitted to President Aquino, according to Garcia. “The [SAP] report that SBMA [sent] to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Office of the President validates our claim that there is overwhelming opposition to the RPEI coal-fired power plant,” Magdaraog said.
Alex Hermoso, lead convenor of the Zambales-Olongapo Civil Society Networks, said: “We are not against the provision of additional power to supply the national grid. But power production must also be environmentally responsible.”
“This is really the bone of contention, we are against coal as fuel [to generate electricity], but some would misrepresent our position (and SAP) as being antienergy, which is not so,” he said.—Robert Gonzaga, Inquirer Central Luzon
Source: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/159801/wind-solar-projects-in-subic-backed
Pampanga is an important province of the Philippines slated to be the next business and tourism center of the country. Already international traffic prefers the Clark International Airport and tourists find Clark Freeport Zone easier to get around than Manila. Safety, low crime rate, no traffic and low pollution levels all contribute to making Pampanga Angeles City Clark Freeport Zone a preferred destination for local and international tourists.
Highly recommended beach resort in North Luzon for company outings and family retreats is most frequently visited hotel in Clark Pampanga because of beautiful view and good outdoor facilities for swimming, picnic and barbecue.
Even tourists and business travelers staying in hotels in Philippines Angeles Pampanga take time off from nightlife, bars and other city entertainment to enjoy a relaxing day in leisure at famous beach resort in Clark Freeport Pampanga. Foreign and local tourists visiting Clark enjoy a sense of safety while savoring the laidback lifestyle offered by famous resort hotels like Clearwater in Clark.
Families traveling out of town go to the north to get away from Manila to unwind, relax and swim with friends and children. Highly recommended holiday spot and vacation destination this summer in the north is Clearwater Beach Resort in Clark. Clark is adjacent to Pampanga’s Angeles City which is just 70 minutes from Manila and 25 minutes from Subic.
For reservations, comments and inquiries,
Clearwater Resort & Country Club
Creekside Road corner of Centennial Road,
Central Business District, Clark Freeport Zone,
Pampanga, Philippines 2023
Tel: (045)599-5949 0917-520-4403 0922-870-5177
Manila Sales Office
3003C East Tower, Phil Stock Exchange Center,
Exchange Rd Ortigas Metro Manila, Philippines 1605
(632) 637-5019 0917-520-4393 Rea or Chay
http://www.ClearwaterPhilippines.com
Email: Inquiry@ClearwaterPhilippines.com
Getting to this hotel in Clark Philippines
After entering Clark Freeport from Subic, Manila, Dau and Angeles City, proceed straight along Clark’s main highway MA Roxas, passing Clark’s largest wine shop called Clark Wine Center on your right, continue to bear right making no turns at all, go past Mimosa Leisure Estate on the opposite side of the road, you will hit a major intersection. Go straight and the road becomes Creekside Road. YATS Clearwater Resort and Country Club is on your right just 200m down. Traffic in Clark Philippines is light so it should be quite easy for get to this hotel in Clark Philippines.
For inquiries and bookings, click here to contact Clearwater Resort now
Wedding couples looking for wedding reception venues and beach wedding venues can log on to this Philippines Wedding Venue web site for free information and assistance:
http://www.PhilippinesWeddingVenue.com
While in Clark, it might be a good idea to enjoy an evening of wine-and-dine in the fine dining Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar that features an award winning 2700-line wine list. It is located in Mimosa Leisure Estate of Clark Freeport Zone. For more information, visit http://www.YatsRestaurant.com
YATS Leisure Philippines is a developer and operator of clubs, resorts and high-class restaurants and wine shops in Clark Angeles Philippines http://www.YatsLeisure.com
While in Clark, one might as well add to the itinerary a visit to the famous Clark Wine Center, the largest wine shop in Philippines which offers over 2000 selections of fine vintage wine from all wine regions, vintages spanning over 50 years covering all price ranges.
http://www.ClarkWineCenter.com
Looking for famous tourists spots, places to visit and see, relax and unwind in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines? You may want to check out these sites also:
http://www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com
http://www.ClarkPhilippines.com
http://www.YatsWineCellars.com
For jobs and business investment opportunities in the Philippines please visit http://www.yilp.com
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