Oro’s Cogon Market to go solar

• Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=2&rid=930216
• Sunday, October 16, 2016

By Pamela Jay F. Orias

A ONE-MEGAWATT solar power project will be installed at the Cagayan de Oro City’s Cogon Market, a first in the country according to city officials.

The project which will include a number of solar panels that will cover the rooftop of the city market. The area covers 1.2 hectares.

City Councilor Ian Mark Nacaya, chair of the committee in economic enterprise said the committee is studying the technical viability and structural integrity of the roof.

The City Economic Enterprises Department (CEED) will lead the project.

Nacaya said the project would not only give additional power supply to the city but would also raise an income of at least P1 million every month to the City Government.

"Kung galing makaproduce ta ug solar power, we will send it to Cepalco (Cagayan Electric Power and Light Company) so pwede nato ma-offset ang atong expenses sa power sa Cogon, and the excess of that will then be automatically sold to Cepalco and then the city can generate income from that," Nacaya said.

"We are identifying other areas to implement this kind of income-generating project kay libre baya ang init sa sun, so imaximize nalang nato gyud ang libre. Ang ato lang pud is we will invest one at a time kay accordingly, 25 years ang warranty sa solar panels," Nacaya said.

He said they will soon open the bidding for companies who are willing to supply solar panel equipment.

"Atong ibid out ang mga equipment, so far naa na kitay duha ka bidder, and we are expecting more bidders will come to us," he added.

The project will be completed next year, said Nacaya. He did not give details on the project cost.

City Mayor Oscar Moreno lauded the enterprise department's initiative in coming up with a renewable energy source for electricity. He vowed to support more projects that will gain revenue as well as benefit the residents here.

A total of P17 million was allotted by the City Government for CEED, which is sourced from the supplemental budget worth P1.18 million that was approved in August this year.

Moreno urged the CEED to provide orderly and clean market for sellers and buyers after the approval of an additional funding for the sector, as part of the Cogon market rehabilitation project.

Nacaya shrugged off security issues of the project. He said the market’s rooftop is far from mugging of street burglars.

The Cogon market is one of the busiest markets in the city. There has been a proliferation of robbery and property damages including light bulbs and electrical wires especially at the second floor.

The market is also noted to be the most congested market in the city where stalls spread around the corners of the market filling up the pass way of public utility vehicles.