THE Sangguniang Panlalawigan vowed to look into the power farm project of Aboitiz Renewables, Inc. to find out if laws were strictly followed in its projects in Pangasinan.

This was indicated by Sixth District Board Member Noel Bince, chairman on the SP committee on laws and ordinances, during a Question Hour called by Second District Board Member Haidee Pacheco after the March 2 vehicular accident last March 2 involving a mini-dump truck of 888 Construction Service, a sub-contractor of the main contractor of Aboitiz Renewables, Inc. where four persons died and seriously injured 31others, all construction workers of 888 Construction Service.

The firm, owned by Cardon Cabangon, is a sub-contractor of SUMEC Engineering which has an existing Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) agreement with ARI, a subsidiary of Aboitiz Power Corporation.

Councilor Tito Cortez of Aguilar said the local Sangguniang Bayan initially suspended the permit for the contractor of the project but lifted it after the contractor extended financial assistance to all the victims.

Meanwhile, P/Major Mark Ryan Taminaya, chief of police of Aguilar, told the SP that the driver of the mini-dump truck, Erick Erames, 34, of Cavite City, who was among those injured, was already charged for Reckless Imprudence Resulting to Multiple Homicide and Multiple Serious Physical Injuries before the Municipal Trial Court of Aguilar-Mangatarem.

Board Member Bince, a lawyer, wants another Question Hour with officials of Aguilar, regional officials of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and ARI to determine if pertinent laws were observed in the construction of the project in Barangay Laoag since the project is “without the imprimatur of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan” and only from the municipal government of Aguilar.

Being constructed is the 159 MWp Laoag and Laoag 2 solar power farm in Barangay Laoag, Aguilar, the second solar power venture of Aboitiz in Pangasinan. When completed, Laoag and Laoag 2 solar farm project is expected to generate 261 GWp of clean energy annually, equivalent to the yearly power consumption of around 100,000 average Filipino households.

The project is only 14 kilometer away from Aboitiz’ first solar farm project, the P4.5 billion Cayanga Power Plant in Bugallon, that broke ground in February 2022.

Aboitiz, also plans to build a solar and wind energy plant in San Manuel town, making it as the biggest single investor in Pangasinan. (Leonardo Micua)

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