Wind Farm Eyed in Batanes

The wind farm is still the active priority development program of the Congressman Florentino B. Abad. While solar power is now operational in Batanes, other renewable sources will greatly lessen our problem on fuel.

The funding of the wind farm, Cong. Abad said is not a problem but a feasible study is needed on durable materials and other facilities to stand typhoon. Being the first of its kind in the Philippines, if ever materialized, commercial businesses and other companies want to be identified with this project. The adaptability and feasibility is to be tackled foremost as it will be very advantageous to areas which are far from main electricity grid like islands. In the Philippines alone key government officials are very excited to monitor its steps from the very foundation and have expressed their interest in duplicating the project in their own island provinces.

There are 3 foreign international corporations and agencies which are willing to give assistance to this project: Int'l Finance Corp. under the IMF, the French gov't. and the Embassy of Denmark to give combination of grant and loan which is interest-free loan.

Careful selection of the best design, Abad said, should be undertaken to ensure adaptability to our weather condition. We are still watching out and carefully studying the best condition in loaning money for this project. (PIA, Basco)