ILOILO — How did the proposed 50-megawatt hyperscale Artificial Intelligence (AI) Data Center in the town of Oton come about?
First District’s Cong. Janette Garin wants this question answered as she raised a red flag over how the foreign-backed project found its way to the municipality, questioning why its developer apparently dealt directly with the local government instead of first going through the appropriate national government channels.
Garin said authorities should trace who introduced Norway Green Energy representative Daniel Stefan Robertsen and determine how the proposed AI data center in Barangay Abilay Sur originated.
“Kinahanglan i-trace ta man kun sin-o nag-introduce sa iya,” Garin said.
She described the process taken by the investor as unusual and a cause for closer scrutiny.
“It’s already a red flag. Highly unusual, kay kon ikaw investor nga matuod-tuod, you would usually go through the process,” Garin said.
Garin clarified that she was not against the establishment of an AI data center itself, provided the project is properly undertaken and complies with legal processes.
She also questioned the choice of Oton for a facility requiring massive power consumption, noting that AI data centers are generally established in areas where electricity is relatively inexpensive.
In the Philippines, she pointed out, electricity is expensive while supply remains limited — another circumstance that prompted her to question why Oton was selected for the proposed 50-MW facility.
Garin said these circumstances make it necessary to trace how the proposal began.
PROJECT SURFACED IN APRIL
Records of the proposal’s dealings with the Oton municipal government date back to April 2026, when Robertsen’s representatives went to the Sangguniang Bayan (SB) Office to submit documents and references concerning the proposed project.
Vice Mayor Jose Neil Olivares said he instructed the representatives to submit a letter of intent to formalize the proposal.
The documents they initially submitted were referred to the SB Committee on Zoning, Buildings, Infrastructure and Urbanization, which he chairs.
Olivares scheduled the first committee hearing during the last week of April, when he met Robertsen for the first time.
It was only in mid-July, however, that the investor formally submitted a letter of intent to Olivares’ office.
A second committee hearing was then held during the last week of July.
The proposal eventually reached the public consultation stage on Aug. 14 in Barangay Abilay Sur, with Robertsen personally attending.
Olivares also disclosed that Robertsen had made a courtesy call at the Office of the Mayor sometime during the second quarter of the year.
Olivares stressed that meetings concerning the proposal were conducted publicly.
“Tanan nga meeting namon in public to alley allegations sang nagahatag sang malisya. Tanan na in public, officials, ara ang department head nga gina-request ko,” Olivares said.
PROJECT NOW IN LIMBO
Questions over the project’s origins come as its future has been thrown into uncertainty following Robertsen’s walkout during the question-and-answer portion of the Aug. 14 public consultation.
Olivares said the municipal government would seek formal written communication from Robertsen’s camp on whether the investor intends to proceed with or withdraw the proposal.
“I will request my staff to inform the secretary of Mr. Robertsen para to send us a note para formal nga naga-withdraw na sila. At least indi lang nga naga-presume lang kita kundi halin sa ila end in writing, mabal-an ta gid kun ma-proceed sila or withdraw na sila,” Olivares said.
Olivares will also wait for the Barangay Abilay Sur council’s resolution before discussing possible executive-legislative action with Mayor Sofronio Fusin.
He said the barangay council would “most likely” reject the project following Robertsen’s walkout.
Barangay Captain Marites Eusoya said barangay officials and residents felt slighted by the investor’s behavior.
“Naka-feel man kami sang medyo gamay nga insulto sa tuod lang kay ti siempre we are professional. Tanan didto nga mga pumoluyo nga gin-invite are professionals,” Eusoya said.
The barangay council is set to document the incident, submit a formal report to the Sangguniang Bayan and pass a resolution stating its official position on the project.
CONDUCT CONDEMNED
Robertsen’s behavior also drew condemnation from Cabinet Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr.
“His behavior is deplorable. Hindi mo dapat murahin o bastusin ang mga Pilipino, lalo na sa sarili naming bansa. As a foreigner, he is expected to respect our people and our laws,” Abalos said.
Garin similarly condemned the developer’s conduct.
“We condemn his actions. We condemn his arrogance,” she said.
Under the roadmap Robertsen presented during the consultation, clearances and utility agreements were targeted for the second quarter of 2026, followed by groundbreaking and construction by September.
Phase 1, involving 10-MW energization, was targeted for the first quarter of 2027, while full energization and operation of the 50-MW facility was projected for the second quarter of 2028./PN
