A PHP200 million solar-diesel hybrid power generation facility will be established in Tawi-Tawi next year, an official said.

In a Facebook post on Friday, Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) Secretary Emmanuel Piñol said the project is expected to boost the seaweed farming Industry in the island-towns of Sibutu, Sitangkai, and Panglima-Sugala.

“Started by my predecessor, the late MinDA Secretary Abul Khayr Alonto, the renewable energy in Tawi-Tawi for seaweeds value-adding will construct a solar-power generation facility with a back-up diesel generator to ensure reliable power supply for seaweeds drying and processing,” Piñol said.

He added that the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) is implementing the project funded by the European Union through its Access to Sustainable Energy Programme (EU-ASEP), with counterpart funding from the provincial government of Tawi-Tawi and the Association of Islands Electric Cooperative through the local franchisee, Tawi-Tawi Electric Cooperative (TAWELCO).

Piñol added that MinDA, then headed by Alonto, initiated the project following requests made by the seaweed farmers of the province for a reliable source of power for the drying and processing of seaweeds.

“I presided over the meeting of the Project Steering Committee in the MinDA headquarters in Davao City to ensure that the project started by the late Secretary Alonto will be pursued,” he said.

Meanwhile, UNIDO Philippine Country Representative Tonilyn Lim reported that the bidding for the construction of the Solar-Diesel Hybrid Power Generation Project has been conducted and the winning bidder will be known before the end of the year.

“When completed, the RETS project will provide a steady and reliable supply of power, not only for the drying and processing of seaweeds but also to the households in the island municipalities,” Piñol said. (PNA)