SN Aboitiz-Ifugao in 2nd round of IP consultation
SN ABOITIZ Power-Ifugao, Inc. said its planned 390-megawatt (MW) hydroelectric power plant in Alimit, Ifugao province has gone to a second round of consultations with indigenous peoples (IP) in the area.
“We have been conducting the second community consultative assemblies, or CCA2, since January 2016 in the four ancestral domains of Lamut, Lagawe, Mayoyao, and Aguinaldo,” Michael Bon C. Hosillos, SN Aboitiz spokesperson, said in a statement on Tuesday.
The company, a joint venture of Norway’s SN Power AS and Aboitiz Power Corp., was in the process of completing the free, prior and informed consent ( FPIC) requirement as prescribed by Republic Act (RA) No. 8371 or “The Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act of 1997.”
The Alimit hydropower complex is composed of three facilities: the 250-MW Alimit pumped storage project, the 120- MW Alimit hydroelectric plant, and a 20-MW Olilicon hydro power plant, which would bring in a total 390-MW of electricity to the grid and help in securing power supply. The proposed facilities are in the municipalities of Aguinaldo, Lagawe, Lamut and Mayoyao.
“We are scheduled to complete presentations to all 81 barangays composing the ancestral domains within the next two months. This will then allow the Indigenous Peoples to go into a consensus building process to decide whether to give consent to the proposed project or not. So far, we have received a positive reception for the proposed project,” he said.
Mr. Hosillos said SN Aboitiz had applied with the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) to proceed with the required consent in March 2014, with the government agency conducting its field-based investigation ahead of its recommendation on the process to be undertaken in the 81 barangays of the four ancestral domain in the four municipalities.
The first community consultative assemblies were held starting in the last quarter of 2014 until the first quarter of last year, and covered the NCIP’s explanation of the residents’ rights under RA 8371. The second consultative assemblies started in December 2015.
“During the consultations, we were informed by the Indigenous Peoples of their key issues and concerns on the project, and this is critical in ensuring that the proposed project considers these concerns moving forward,” Mr. Hosillos said.
SN Aboitiz said that under the law, indigenous peoples are given 60 days to decide whether to give consent to the proposed project. With consent, a memorandum of agreement can be negotiated to cover the terms and conditions.
The company said the next step would be to secure the endorsement of local governments as well as an environment compliance certificate, plus other mandatory regulatory requirements.
AboitizPower holds Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Inc.’s investments in power generation, distribution and retail electricity services.