COPENHAGEN, Denmark (via PLDT) – The Philippines continues to pursue its policy of veering away from heavy dependence on fossil fuels as a source of power and will rely more on renewable energy to reduce the country’s carbon footprint, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said here.

Mrs. Arroyo said wind power, which has been proven feasible in Bangui, Ilocos Norte and has even become a tourist attraction being the only one of its kind in the region, will hopefully also be successfully harnessed in other parts of the country.

She mentioned Batanes as one of the possible areas where the Bangui wind farm could be replicated.

Negotiations between the Philippines and the government of the Kingdom of Denmark are also ongoing for the expansion of the country’s wind power technology. Denmark is the acknowledged leader in wind power technology.

The second phase of the Northwind Bangui Bay Project is on the pipeline involving the putting up of five more wind turbines in Bangui Bay, bringing the total to 20. It is jointly being undertaken by DANIDA, Denmark’s aid/credit agency, and Vestas.

A highly-placed source involved in the negotiations told the Manila Bulletin that Tagaytay and Daet, Camarines Sur have likewise been identified as potential hosts for power windmills.

The President met with Vestas Director Jannick Temansen to start the negotiation process Thursday. Vestas is Denmark’s leading producer of high technology wind power solutions.

The talk with Temansen is expected to fast-track the second phase of the Bangui wind farm project, which was earlier derailed due to certain misunderstandings between Northwind and Vestas.