Negros Occidental Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. yesterday warned against the use of prime agricultural land for a 1,000-hectare solar farm in northern Negros Occidental.

Buskowitz Development Inc., a German firm, is sending a technical working group to the first district of Negros Occidental to look for a 1,000-hectare site for a solar farm targeted to generate 700 megawatts of power, Marton Cui, executive assistant for political affairs of Rep. Julio Ledesma IV, said Monday.

The governor said that, while more power supply is needed for the province, food security should be given priority over energy needs.

If there is no food, people will go hungry and die, he said.

He said it is a Department of Energy policy that land to be used for power projects should have Department of Agriculture approval, he said.

But the governor also admitted that Negros Occidental, that is growing very fast, needs more power supply that should be generated, not only from solar farms, but also from wind, biomass and hydro sources.

Meanwhile, the governor said the provincial government will provide housing assistance to residents of Barangay 2, San Carlos City in Negros Occidental whose houses were destroyed by fire Saturday.

A total of 69 families were affected, and the estimated damage was placed at P2 million, Provincial Social Welfare Officer Liane Garcia, said.

She said 42 houses were destroyed and three were damaged.*CPG

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