Powerhouse

This might not seem readily evident: the province of Laguna is emerging as the major renewable energy (RE) supplier for the Luzon grid.

Guided by forward-looking policies and powered by private investments, Laguna’s RE output from all sources is expected to exceed one gigawatt when the active projects come online. It will soon be many times larger over the next few years.

Laguna’s RE production comes from all imaginable sources: hydro, solar, wind and geothermal. Committed investments open the way to a staggering rise in energy production. The investments create tens of thousands of jobs for residents of the progressive province.

In the towns of Cabuyao, Sta. Rosa, Calamba, Victoria and Bay, government is partnering with companies like Blueleaf Energy Philippines to locate RE installations on 2,000 hectares of property to generate at least 2.5 gigawatts of energy for the Luzon grid.

On Caliraya Lake, a 250 MW floating solar farm will complement the hydropower facility that is also being improved. Started in 2024, the solar farm will be in operation early in 2026.

ACEN is developing several floating solar projects, including the 140 MW solar project in Sta. Cruz and the 280 MW Gigafactory Wind1 project in Kalayaan and Paete.

Next year, another 100.8 MW from a wind project will begin supplying the grid. Investment in this RE project comes from a joint venture between Blue Circle and ACCIONA Energia. This is merely the first phase of the larger 350 MW Kalayaan project.

From hydro, the province expects more than 2,000 MW of electricity from a pumped storage in Pakil town and additional hydro facilities at Caliraya. These hydro facilities can power entire towns with zero carbon footprint.

The sheer size of the hydro projects would alter our energy calculus and put us in the global RE map. The Pakil project alone should be able to replace dozens of coal powered plants currently still in use.

Of all the RE sources, hydro plants provide reliable and steady energy supplies. The Pakil plant, expected to operate in five years, would serve as a model for a world no longer reliant on fossil fuel.

A few years ago, the idea of one province supplying a gigawatt of clean power to the grid was unimaginable. In a few months, this will be a reality in Laguna, courtesy of rapid advances in RE technologies and policies conducive to investments in alternative energy sources.

For all our traumas and failures, the Philippines has established itself as an emerging renewable energy powerhouse. Greater use of renewable energy will help us bring down energy costs and consequently help us improve on our competitiveness. Alternative energy sources are proving much cheaper in generating the power we need to develop.

The large RE projects are not without its critics – including groups that guise themselves as RE advocates. But they will soon be overwhelmed by the economics of investing in new energy sources.

Let the future make that judgment.

VIPDL

Former Bamban mayor Alice Guo, found guilty of crimes related to POGO operations, has been transferred to the Correctional Institute for Women (CIW) along with her co-accused. CIW official Marjorie Ann Sanidad insisted that standard processing protocols were followed in her case.

Despite staunch denials by prison authorities that she is receiving special treatment, allegations continue. One recent report claims Guo was visited recently by two men described as “mukhang Tsino.” The visitors were neither her lawyers nor Chinese consulate officials. Another report claims she acquired a cellphone shortly after her transfer – violating CIW rules.

Human rights group Kapatid’s spokesperson Fides Lim says that disparities between influential detainees and ordinary inmates are a consistent reality across the country’s jails. Families of political prisoners have observed how “Very Important PDLs” receive conveniences routinely denied poorer prisoners.

The case of convicted pork barrel mastermind Janet Lim Napoles is often cited. According to reports, Napoles was allowed to stay in the “mother-and-child” ward ordinarily reserved for nursing mothers and pregnant inmates.

The pork barrel queen is now reportedly the “mayor” – an informal leadership role held by influential detainees who help maintain order inside the prisons. Bureau of Corrections officials insist, however, that she received no special accommodations beyond standard procedure.

Persisting claims of preferential treatment are symptoms of what is wrong with our prison system. We saw, from the publicized raids at the National Penitentiary’s maximum security sections, how wealthy inmates enjoyed private quarters, freely used electronic gadgets, were awarded prolonged hospital stays and even retained personal staff right under the noses of prison officials.

The disparities are aggravated by the very miserable prison conditions. A Bureau of Jail Management and Penology audit report just released revealed that 336 of the 484 jails nationwide are congested. The most congested is the Biñan City Jail Male Dormitory which is 2,141 percent overpopulated. Misery levels far exceed standards prescribed under the UN Standard Minimum Rules for Treatment of Prisoners.

Given the misery levels, bribing prison guards for the slightest convenience is ordinary practice. The higher the prison’s misery level, the costlier every sliver of convenience sells. Selling convenience is a lucrative income stream for prison guards.

It is necessary, of course, to closely monitor the cases of the highest profile detainees to check against preferential treatment. But it will serve our prisoners more if we advocate for a more humane jail system.