Ifugao towns say yes to hydro
BANAUE, Ifugao -- An agreement spanning half a century may have been inked.
Elders and leaders from towns of Lamut, Mayoyao, Lagawe and Aguinaldo with SN Aboitiz Power Ifugao (SNAP Ifugao) top brass converged to sign the framework agreement for the proposed 140MW Alimit Hydro Electric Project (HEPP).
Ifugao Governor Pedro Mayam - o welcomed the project saying it will improve the economy as well as the environment of the province.
"We have nothing to lose but many things to gain, the province will benefit in terms of employment, taxes and utilization of god given natural resources," Mayam-o said.
The governor added Ifugao is rich in natural resources and it is best to take advantage of it, in terms of economic value to its people, quashing fears of losing water for irrigiation.
Kjell Valdal, SNAP vice - president and Alimit project director welcomed the signing between the three towns which took four years after getting the consensus of 81 baragays and engaging with four Indigenous Peoples Organizations.
The framework agreement sets into standards the relationship of stakeholders of the towns with SNAP Ifugao as well as guidelines to fortify cooperation, collaboration and partnership for the coming years.
There are three components to the 140 MW project, one is the main hydroelectric power plant (120 MW) and a diversion power plant (20MW).
The project aims to draw water from the Alimit and Ibulao rivers tributary to the Magat river between Lagawe, Aguinaldo and Mayoyao towns, building an impounding reservoir to be supplemented by water to be diverted from the Ibulao river going to the Alimit river giving SNAP a 140 MW of
capacity in the area.
Valdal said the four year course of the crafting of the framework a facet of a project as complex as the Alimit HEPP.
"A four year feasibility is needed to appreciate , understand and learn what the project is all about, this is the start of a relationship until 20 4," Valdal added.
Originally, the proposed complex was seen to have a power generating capacity of 390MW with its third component, a 2s0 MW pumped storage put on hold due to market constraints.
The river is 33 km long from its upper trenches in Aguinaldo and Mayaoyao to its confluence with the Magat Dam reservoir in Dulao, Lagawe in Ifugao.
The Alimit HEPP complex is composed of; the 120 MW Alimit HEPP and the 20MW Olilicon HEPP and the two 250 MW Alimit pumped storage HEPP projects.
The Alimit HEPP \ Olilicon HEPP is located at the lower stretch of the Alimit river and Ibulao river which are tributaries of the Magat river immediately upstream of the Magat reservoir while the Alimit Pumped Storage upper reservoir is proposed to be located in a natural basin in the mountain range between the Alimit and Ibulao rivers.
Only the municipality of Lamut has yet to sign the framework agreement despite the concurrence of its IPO led by James Tayaban, it is hoped to reach an agreement in the next three weeks.
Mayam o said with the construction of a dam weir, irrigation to the 4 towns will not be affected and lauded SNAP Ifugao for following all provisions of law as well as community beliefs and traditions.
Present in the signing were Mike Hosillos of SNAP Vice President and Chief Corporate Officer, Joseph Yu SNAP President and Chief Executive Officer, Mayors Gaspar Chilagan Jr. of Aguinaldo of Lagawe, Martin Habawel Jr of of Lagawe and Ronnie Lumayna of Mayoyao, with the respective IPO of each town.
The Alimit HEPP was awarded 3 renewable service contract by the Department of Engery in 2014 signalling SNAP Ifugao to bankroll talks with the municiplaities of Lamut, Mayoyao, Lagawe and Aguinaldo.
When Lamut signs the agreement SNAP will submit all documents to the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) for its anticipated decsion to allow the company to proceed with the conduct of the Free Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) process between itself and the IPO of each town, ending the fasibility stage of the project, inching closer to construction of the HEPP.