Amazing Bangui Windmills

WOW!!! This is maybe the first word that would automatically come out from anyone’s mouth upon seeing these gigantic and truly fascinating windmills.

Towering along the shore of Bangui Bay and spaced 236 meters apart, these 20 windmills are considered to be the biggest in Southeast Asia.  The windmills are officially referred to as the Northwind Bangui Bay Project, the first wind farm in the Philippines. This primarily aims to solve the electric power supply shortage of NAPOCOR in the whole province of Ilocos Norte. This project as a practice renewable energy sources sells electricity to the Ilocos Norte Electric Cooperative (INEC) and provides 40% of the power requirements of Ilocos Norte via Transco Laoag.

The project was initiated by then Ilocos Norte Governor, Bongbong Marcos with NorthWind Power Development Corp, a Danish power firm who supplied the wind turbine-generator units (WTGs) for the site. These windmills are similar to those already found in Denmark. It was inaugurated on June 18, 2005 with 15 windmills that complete the Phase I of the project. The Phase II with 5 additional wind turbine units was completed in 2008. 

HUGE, isn’t it? Each windmill has a tubular tower that measures 50m-high and a 6-meter diameter base. Including the blades, each windmill is approximately 70 meters high. (Facts have been sourced out from WikiPilipinas. Some sentences have been rephrased for simpler description. For complete details check on Bangui Windmills from WikiPilipinas on your search menu

Since then, aside from the fact that the project is really a big help to the province, Bangui Willmills has become one of the icons and truly pride of Ilocos Norte. These robot/alien-looking, modern-finished windmills never fail to amaze anyone who gets the chance to see and experience jumping with the windmills themselves. Of course cam whoring for souvenir and blogs. 

As tourism in the province booms, many locals as well as foreign tourists opt not to escape Ilocos without having a stop at Bangui to see these amazing windmills.

The sky is really blue and clear. So with the water. We obviously enjoyed the sun and expressed this overflowing joy by jumping..

 

So tiring? Hmmm.. Maybe we didn't feel that at all. For we are very eager to get the best jumpshot with these gentle giants as our backdrop.

The tale of jumpshots at Bangui

FOUR for FUN

 

The Bangui Windmills are among the safest windmills in the world where anyone can touch it and even lean on its base. 

Here, you can see how huge each windmill is. We even leaned our backs at the base of the tower to make you believe that they are really safe to touch. 

We are on the second to the last windmill (counting from the main entrance). I am not sure how many entrances there are, but since windmills are stretched in an open area, I guess there are many roads going to the site. There's a substation on the main entrance and the in-charge will be assisting you and educate you about the project. In our case, we opted to stop at Brgy. Masikil where our Traysi-Tour Guide is patiently waiting for us because afterward we'll be heading our way to Pagudpud. 

From there, we entered the rough road and reached the site in just few minutes. 

GETTING THERE IS SO EASY

From Laoag, following the Maharlika Highway, you will be passing through the town of Baccarra, Pasuquin and Burgos. Once passed Burgos, watch out for the directional signs on the left side going to the site. Traveling time from Laoag to the Town of Bangui is approximately one hour and a half via Jeepney or bus bound for Pagudpud or Cagayan.

 Windmills are fairly visible from the highway, so it is impossible for you to get lost. This will only add to your excitement to see the windmills up-close.

THERE IS NO ENTRANCE FEE. 

Worthy to note is that this is a government project with a great purpose and not as a commercial  tourist spot. So the best thing we can do in return when we get there is to observe "NO LITTERING". Let us keep the site CLEAN and in ORDER. You may touch it, lean on it, but please don't do anything you know is not good and may harm or damage the unit.

It is my greatest hope that our government will invest more in this kind of project that helps reduce the frightening effect of greenhouse gases which is the main cause of global warming, and of course boost tourism in the area. 

SEE MORE PHOTOS, CLICK HERE!

Credit: wikipilipinas, wikipedia

Date of Experience: October 18, 2011

With: Ton Lorenzo, Sheryl Erpelo & Pamela Mallorca