By Mae Singuay

Residents of Bacolod City’s Barangay Felisa oppose the establishment of a 150-megawatt (MW) solar farm project, despite the Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) already granting it a favorable endorsement.

The proposed solar power plant by Negros PH Solar Inc. will be established in a 133.7-hectare area covering the boundaries of Barangay Felisa and Bago City’s Barangay Tabunan.

Felisa village chief Ramon Jardin said he submitted a letter to Mayor Alfredo Benitez on Friday, March 17, with a copy of the barangay council resolution, citing their objection to the proposed project.

“Iya na petition sang mga pumuluyo ta, kag si barangay council nag-upod,” Jardin said.

He requested the company representatives to sit down with the barangay council to discuss the project overview, clarify comments or questions of the stakeholders and provide information on the project, its components and its effects on the host community.

But no meetings happened, Jardin said.

He added residents were questioning their health and safety and a lot of what-ifs were raised against the establishment of the solar power plant.

Jardin also said that there was a favorable endorsement obtained by Negros PH Solar Inc. in 2015, but it was from the former punong barangay and said that a new favorable endorsement must be obtained from the new set of barangay officials.

Bacolod SP Committee on Energy chairperson Councilor Claudio Jesus Puentevella said in September last year he conducted a public hearing after the firm submitted the proper requirements needed for the establishment of the power plant.

“They already have a permit. Only because they adjusted the megawatt from 200 to 150, so they need an updated favorable endorsement,” the councilor said.

Puentevella said he has yet to receive a copy of the opposition letter from Felisa residents.

Last week, Negros Occidental SP Committee on Environment chairperson Board Member Manuel Frederick Ko confirmed their endorsement of the solar farm project./MS, WDJ