KABUGAO, Apayao – Contrary to fake news circulating for the past two (2) years, Pan Pacific Renewable Power Phils. Corp. (PPRPPC) worked out new project design concept to reduce its Gened-1 Hydroelectric Power Project from the original 600 Megawatts (MW) installed capacity to 150 Megawatts (MW). This move of the company is in response to the clamor of the indigenous peoples (IPs) and host communities for the reduction of the affected area as part of its gesture to establish a harmonious partnership between the company and the Indigenous Peoples (IPs) of Kabugao. This was likewise confirmed by the Kabugao Isnag Indigenous Peoples Organization (KIIPO), the only recognized representative of the Kabugao Ancestral Domain.
On December 5, 2011, the Department of Energy (DOE) awarded the company the development of the 600MW Apayao-Abulug Hydroelectric Power Project located in the Municipalities of Pudtol and Kabugao, Apayao province.
However, on May 19, 2015, PPRPPC requested the DOE to introduce improvement and redesign of the project concept from the original 600MW Hydroelectric Power Project to at least 150MW to significantly reduce the affected properties of the project to be able to address the clamor of the IPs and the host communities.
Subsequently, the DOE approved the proposed amendment to the aforesaid Service Contract, thus, the installed capacity of the 600MW Apayao-Abulug Hydro Power Project was reduced to 150MW now known as the Gened-1 Hydroelectric Power Project.
The 150MW Gened 1 Hydropower project will be constructed in Barangay Lt. Balag in the Municipality of Pudtol. Its Reservoir encompasses 9 barangays – Barangay Poblacion, Magabta, Bulu, Cabetayan, Nagbabalayan, Waga, Laco, Badduat and Luttuacan. The 150MW Gened 1 Hydropower project is designed for Power generation ONLY. The Hydropower project which will be constructed early next year will be finished in 5 years. The company’s decision to reduce the hydro power plant’s installed capacity to 150MW resulted to the significant reduction in the impact area to only 1 percent of the total 93,512 hectares land area of Kabugao equivalent to 936 hectares where the affected barangays went down from the previous 14 to only 9 barangays.
Of the affected barangays, only 2 barangays, Poblacion and Magabta, will be the most affected areas where some 28 percent and 20 percent, respectively, of their land area will be affected followed by Barangay Bulu at 14%. The remaining 6 barangays will only be affected by 1%-4% only. With the 6 years FPIC activities, most of the identified Isnag household have already relocated to other areas within the same barangay but they will still receive the agreed compensation.
PPRPPC is committed to the upliftment of the Isnag and Tawit communities that is why it continues to engage the legitimate and authorized representative of the Indigenous Peoples to listen to their plight and respond to the same pursuant to the spirit of lasting partnership.
Further, hydro plant’s lower capacity also resulted in the lower dam height by 115 meters from the previously 175 meters from river bed to only 60 meters from riverbed.
On the other hand, the hydro plant’s reservoir area was reduced by 85 percent or from the previous 6,200 hectares to only 936 hectares with the plant’s lower capacity which is equivalent to only 1 percent of the more than 93,512 hectares land area of the municipality.
The company stated that all infrastructures and facilities of the proposed 150MW Gened 1 Hydroelectric Power Project are all located in barangay Lt. Balag of Pudtol, Apayao.
Moreover, the watershed area of the proposed hydro power plant is around 1,600 square kilometers to help in sustaining the identity of Apayao as the last frontier of nature in the north.
The firm said that the company envisions Apayao to be one of the primemovers in the north for renewables with its planned cascading hydropower projects within the Apayao-Abulug River that will propel the entire province of Apayao to be one of the main power supply of CLEAN energy in Luzon. At present, the Province of Apayao sources its power from CAGELCO II and KAELCO. Most of the areas of Apayao do not have access to electricity. The 150MW Gened 1 Hydroelectric Power Project is providing Free electricity to each Tawit and Isnag household in Pudtol and Kabugao.
This is on top of the Government share under the Renewable Energy Act RA 9351 or RA Act of 2008 which requires all renewable companies to contribute 1% of its gross income to the government; real property taxes which will have a substantial impact on the revenue of the Municipalities of Pudtol and Kabugao ; Financial Benefits required under the Department of Energy’s ER 1-94 which requires all renewable companies to contribute One centavo for every Kilowatt hour (P0.01/KWh) of power generated for electrification, livelihood projects, reforestation & water management. The MOA also includes royalties for the Kabugao Isnag Ancestral Domain; community partnerships; health and medical benefits, etc.
Apayao is one of the provinces in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR). Based on data from 2022 DTI Data, the Province of Apayao has a population of 119,184 and is relying on agricultural crops such as rice and corn.The Province of Apayao has 7 municipalities – Calanasan, Conner, Flora, Kabugao, Luna, Pudtol, and Santa Marcela. The Municipality of Kabugao has a population of 15,537 with an annual Revenue of P2.7Million for the year 2022.
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on his first SONA speech is pushing for the rapid transition of the Philippines to renewable energy not only to mitigate the worst impacts of climate change on the country but also to address the higher cost of electricity in the country. He said the use of renewable energy will top his administration’s climate change agenda. The country is now faced with a looming power crisis brought about by the nearing depletion of Malampaya gas which used to account for 56% of our power source which is now down to 6% ; increased demand during the post-Covid reopening of economies which unfortunately coincided with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the subsequent squeeze on gas supplies into Europe.