Manila: The government has been called on to study the impact of its solar energy push in light of claims that the country’s food security could be compromised by the construction of solar fields.
The Philippines has jumped onto the solar energy bandwagon with vigour but according to Congressman Agapito Guanlao, studies and impact assessments must be first conducted to ensure that any such push does not imperil food security.
The country’s cost of on-grid electricity supplies is among the highest across Asia, especially in Metro Manila. This has forced both the government and the private sector to seek cheaper alternatives, such as harnessing the sun’s energy.
Last year, the government announced that it was working on its biggest solar energy project to date, the San Carlos Solar Power Plant (SaCaSol). The 1.9 billion Philippine peso (Dh158 million) power plant is expected to contribute an additional 35 million kilowatt-hours to the Visayas grid annually.
But Guanlao, who represents agricultural partylist group Butil, said the government must be cautious on immediately engaging in such endeavours.
“While solar or photovoltaic plants are non-pollutive and [cause] less [damage to the] environment, there are issues being raised on the threats and impact of solar energy plants allegedly located in agricultural lands and communities covered by the agrarian reform programme of the government,” Gunlao stressed.
With the Philippines having large tracts of arable land, Guanlao fears that land traditionally devoted to planting food crops could be converted into solar farms.
Guanlao had asked the House committees on energy and agrarian Reform to probe the establishment and construction of solar energy plants in areas covered by the agrarian reform programme.
“There is an urgent need to determine the impact of [the] conversion of agricultural lands to accommodate solar plants, vis-a-vis the country’s quest for food security,” Guanlao said.
Executive Order No. 462 issued in 1997 and Republic Act No. 9513 or the ‘Renewable Energy Act of 2008’ has resulted in a renewable energy boom, which has manifested itself in the form of solar plants in across the country.
Guanlao, who chairs the House Special Committee on Food Security, said the Department of Energy last year awarded service contracts to nine power companies that are planning to establish solar power projects in Mindanao.
