Bago City wind farm progresses with seven village sites

Seven villages in Bago City, Negros Occidental, have been identified as host sites for a USD 250-million utility-scale wind power project backed by Thailand-based Sermsang Power Corp.

The selected areas—Calumangan, Napoles, Taloc, Sampinit, Busay, Balingasag, and Lag-asan—were listed in the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ (DENR) public scoping notice issued through its Environment Management Bureau in the Negros Island Region.

The public scoping is scheduled for Oct. 28 and marks the project’s entry into the environmental impact assessment (EIA) process, a prerequisite for large-scale energy developments in the Philippines.

“Public scoping is an early stage in the environmental impact assessment process where the proponent aims to provide an overview of the proposed project, gather issues and concerns, and other relevant information to provide the scope of work and terms of reference for the preparation of the environmental impact statement,” EMB-NIR explained.

The 150-megawatt wind farm will consist of 23 turbines and is expected to begin construction in the fourth quarter of 2025, continuing into 2026.

Once operational, the project is projected to create approximately 140 local jobs during both construction and maintenance phases.

“This is going to be our very first project in the Philippines,” said Sermsang Power Chief Operating Officer Passakorn Panyaratanakorn during initial discussions with Bago City in July.

Mayor Marina Javellana-Yao expressed support for the investment and emphasized the city’s investor-friendly environment.

“Bago City is open for investors and let us make it easier for them and our City Investment and Incentive Code is underway and hopefully they may be able to get incentives for their investments in our city,” she said.

The wind project aligns with the Philippines’ broader push to increase renewable energy in the national power mix under the Department of Energy’s clean energy agenda.

According to DOE data, the Philippines targets raising the share of renewable energy to 35% by 2030 and 50% by 2040.

The involvement of foreign investors like Sermsang Power adds momentum to the country’s efforts to diversify energy sources, reduce carbon emissions, and build climate resilience.

With the public scoping now set, local stakeholders, environmental experts, and residents will have an opportunity to provide feedback and raise potential concerns.

This feedback will inform the project’s environmental impact statement, which is a critical step in securing permits for construction and eventual operation.

Wind energy remains an underutilized resource in the Philippines, with significant potential in areas such as the Visayas and northern Luzon.

The Bago City development represents a major step in expanding wind capacity in the central Philippines, where energy demand is steadily rising.

Sermsang Power’s entry into the Philippine energy sector also underscores growing regional interest in Southeast Asia’s renewable energy market.

The company’s move reflects broader trends of cross-border investment in sustainable infrastructure in response to global climate and energy goals.

If completed as planned, the Bago wind farm will help power thousands of homes while contributing to economic development and environmental sustainability in Negros Occidental.