VILLAR ON ILOCOS NORTES POTENTIAL AS
CENTER OF TOURISM AND MODEL FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY

Senate President Manny Villar, President of the Nacionalista Party, was wowed by the scenic spots in Ilocos Norte which he says can haul in tourism money for the province. Villar also praised the province for its pioneering windmills in Bangui that already generate considerable electricity for the town.

Ilocos Norte still has huge and still untapped potential in the field of tourism. Even the windmills in Bangui that were built to supply energy to the area are also attracting tourists. It is really something that the province and the town should be proud of, says Villar.

Ilocos Norte, according to its officials, is the only province in the country and the first in Southeast Asia that sources its energy supply from windmills, thus no longer dependent on oil-powered electricity.

With rising prices of oil, Ilocos Norte is a good model for the whole country and even the region. Finally, we have a functioning renewable source of energy through Banguis fifteen giant windmills or wind turbines. It already supplies around 40% of the provinces electricity requirements, adds Villar.

Villar supports programs and projects aimed at reducing fuel consumption through alternative energy sources. We should seriously look into renewable and environment-friendly sources of energy in order to drastically reduce our dependence on oil. The wind turbines and bio-fuels are excellent first steps toward this goal.

Villar continued his palengke and campus tour in Ilocos Norte. He also joined the senatorial candidates of the Genuine Opposition (GO) who are also in the province where they were all warmly received by Ilocanos. The GO candidates are scheduled to hold a rally at the province auditorium tonight.