At least 56 lot owners of Brgy. Talisay, Daanbantayan town in northern Cebu have been properly notified of the Capitol’s move to buy their lots.
In a meeting at the Capitol on February 6, Gov. Gwen Garcia informed them that their properties fall within the 185-hectare lot eyed for the solar power plant that will be built there by Spanish firm Acciona Energia Global and Freya Renewables.
The power plant, a joint venture between Acciona and the Capitol, has the capacity to produce 150 megawatts of electricity, a big boost to the government’s power supply generation capacity.
The governor said that the project is a priority of the Department of Energy as it is seen to address the growing demand for power in Central Visayas and neighboring regions.
It can be recalled that the neighboring Panay Island experienced widespread and prolonged power outages for three days in early January and subsequent outages just two weeks later after several power plants in the island tripped.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. even issued a statement on the urgency of the situation, as Iloilo Province alone suffered P3.8 billion in economic losses on the first round of outages; while the general public had to endure untold inconveniences without electricity in their homes and work places.
Daanbantayan lot owners will be paid “just compensation” for their properties pursuant to provisions of the law that govern possible expropriation proceedings, or the government’s power to take private property for public use upon just compensation to the owner.
Daanbantayan Mayor Sun Shimura, who was also present at the meeting, assured the residents of the LGU’s help by prioritizing them in housing and relocation projects.
The meeting was also joined by Provincial consultant on environment Atty. Ben Cabrido Jr. and Barangay Talisay officials. | Mary Ann Malaya
