Bangui Wind Farm

After an exhilarating experience in Kapurpurawan Rock Formation in Burgos, we headed off to our next destination – Bangui Wind Farm. Those who have seen the informercial of Cong. Bongbong Marcos, these are the giant electric fans along the coast of Ilocos Norte.

Marcos was a congressman when  he proposed this project to answer the power shortages in the province. With a Danish developer, the Bangui Bay Windpower Project was realized. Just four years ago, 15 turbines were erected. Today, there are 20 windmills.

I first had a glance of this bizarre yet impressive work when we approached the viewing deck. And it literally took my breath away. For someone who never seen a windmill before ( I think most of us), it is really amazing. The viewing deck was shabby, I think it used to have a small cafeteria. My husband who visited Ilocos a decade ago, said the the viewing deck was already there for a glimpse of Bangui Bay.

Only a small sign that directs to the location of the  Bangui Bay guides travelers and you will journey on a rough road until you reach the bay. If you can’t find the right place to go, locals can easily point you to the right direction. Bangui Bay is a tranquil place with residents obviously living in the simplest pleasures in life.  Stretching up to 9 kilometers and facing South China Sea, this is the perfect place to construct an alternative and greener source of energy.

People are free to visit and admire the Bangui Windmills and now it is one of the major tourist attractions in the province. No entrance fee; we only saw a man selling accessories made of shells along the coast.  Aside from that, you only have the gigantic windmills with you. And that’s what I like about Ilocos Norte, no frills, no commercialization, no mass tourism!

While we were there, some turbines were under maintenance and only 15 or 17 of them were working. Each windmill stands 70 meters which is equivalent to a 23-storey building. And the blade is 41 meters long..As the first and the largest windfarm in Southeast Asia, it significantly dropped electricity cost in the province. And more than that, it is a greener alternative, the total opposite of the Coal Power Plant that the city of Iloilo will have.

During office hours, staff of the Windfarm can answer all inquiries from the visitors about the Bangui Wind Farm Project. And since we came there during a holiday, we just had fun taking photos. With all the windmill turning, expect that it is a little bit noisy. You can retreat to the coast and just venerate the windmills of Bangui as the sun begins to set..