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Fisherfolk in Ilocos Norte staged a fluvial protest on April 20 to oppose the planned 2,000-megawatt (MW) BuhaWind Offshore Wind Farm, warning it could displace thousands of fishers and disrupt traditional fishing grounds in Pasuquin, Burgos, Bangui, and Pagudpud.
National group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (PAMALAKAYA) backed the protest, citing threats to livelihoods and marine ecosystems.
Meanwhile, the environmental group, Saluadan, cited government data, warning that the proposed wind farm could impact more than 6,000 registered fisherfolk in Ilocos Norte, with many more unregistered fishers also at risk.
The ₱360-billion joint venture between Denmark’s Copenhagen Energy and PetroGreen Energy Corp. is set to rise 1 to 18 kilometers off the province’s coast, in waters as deep as 800 meters.
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The call for responsible green energy projects
The wind farm’s floating turbines are set to be installed from shore in water 80 to 800 meters deep. It is scheduled for completion by 2028.
PAMALAKAYA raised alarm over the proposed 50-meter no-sail zone around each wind turbine, warning it would drastically limit fishing access. The group also noted that fishing would be banned throughout the three-year construction phase, with continued restrictions likely even after completion—further shrinking key fishing areas in the region.
“We strongly oppose any project that would harm the livelihood of small-scale fishers and marine resources,” declared PAMALAKAYA Vice Chairperson Ronnel Arambulo. He criticized the project for displacing long-standing fishing zones, saying the push for clean energy “should not violate the rights of fisherfolk and the environment.”
Environmental groups warned that the offshore wind project could have serious ecological consequences, including underwater noise pollution, damage to fish habitats, and long-term harm to marine biodiversity.
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Advancing fisherfolk rights
Although Ilocos Norte has long been a center for renewable energy, PAMALAKAYA pointed out that residents have seen little benefit.
A significant portion of the electricity produced is directed to the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) and traded on the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM), which has been linked to ongoing high energy prices and regular power disruptions in the area. The group pledged to keep opposing what it describes as the exploitation of marine resources under the banner of renewable energy development.
During talks with the Ilocos Norte Electric Cooperative (INEC), the Samahan Para sa Reporma ng Kooperatiba (SPARK) noted that the province’s energy needs are just 60 MW, a fraction of the power generated by wind turbines.
Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas leader Danilo Ramos urged Congress to conduct an immediate, independent investigation into the BuhaWind project, focusing on its economic, environmental, and social impacts. He argued that allowing businesses to profit from the country’s oceans is unjust, especially when the project is displacing fishermen and damaging natural resources.
Ramos advocated for meaningful aid for fisherfolk, highlighting the need for advanced fishing equipment, financial assistance, and programs to safeguard coastal areas, rather than forcing them out for profit-driven initiatives. He urged a united effort to amplify fisherfolk’s voices and defend their right to work and protect the environment.
“Let us raise the voices of the fisherfolk,” he said. “Let us fight for the right to livelihood and the environment.”
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