2 private entities have sought permission from the Department of Energy (DOE) to put up renewable energy sources in Argao and Toledo City, Cebu. Lawyer Marissa Cerezo, DOE Renewable Energy Management Bureau assistant director, said the department is evaluating the application of two investors in wind energy resources in two areas.

“The applications (of investors) are under evaluation for legal, technical and financial requirements,” she mentioned. She said investors have 30 days to fulfill all requirements or be disqualified.

Based on DOE Data, as of 2010, the country has a total renewable energy capacity of 5,400 megawatts (MW). The bulk of this comes from geothermal, biomass, solar, wind and hydro power. “Under the renewable energy program, we plan to triple the current capacity in 2030 or at least 15,000 megawatts nationwide,” she said. Eduardo Amante, DOE energy resource development and utilization division chief, said there are two solar power sites in Badian that produce a total of 750 Kilowatts. In Bantayan Island, wastes from poultry and pig farms are converted into biomass energy.

Energy from Biomass sources, however is only two kilowatts, said Amante, which is only enough for the farm owner’s energy requirement.

The Ginatilan municipal government on the other hand, is planning to develop renewable energy sources in its area and is gathering data to prove the feasibility of the project. Solar power potential sites were also identified on Camotes Island and at the Mactan Ecozone. In 2008, the DOE launched a program for the two-year development of a renewable energy database and enhancement of technical expertise of stakeholders.

Last year, it started implementing a five year project to promote renewable energy. The project includes the development of ocean energy from 2015 to 2030. “We are checking potential renewable energy sites in the Visayas. We have an aggressive plan to conduct a massive information and education campaign for stakeholders and probable investors.”