FPIC process ongoing for 3 hydropower projects in Balbalan and Pinukpuk, Kalinga

Tabuk City, Kalinga – With the country’s Department of Energy awarding the rights to JBD Water Power Inc. (JWPI) as the RENEWABLE ENERGY (RE) DEVELOPER of three hydropower projects in Balbalan and Pinukpuk, the Free Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) process is now being conducted to communities where the said projects shall be made.

These hydropower plants will make a major contribution to the power generation of the country and supply much needed Renewable Electricity as we uplift and EMPOWER KALINGA.

Rationale of the Project

As explained by Engr. Obed Jose Bilowan, Team Leader of said projects, the country, as underscored by DOE, has a lot of potential in terms of hydropower. More than 10% of the country’s electricity needs, Bilowan said citing findings of DOE, could be solved by hydropower.

As part of the National Renewable Energy Program, the country plans to triple the capacity to generate electricity from renewable sources by the year 2030. As part of the plan, DOE is in pursuit of shifting from coal to renewable energy.

This plan would then need the addition of 14,900 MW of power, including 8,700MW of hydropower, or about 35% in 2030 to 50% in 2040.

Hydropower is the most environmentally friendly method of generating electricity.

Some HPP Projects in Kalinga

The projects include the 49 Megawatts Saltan D River hydropower plant (HPP), 45 Megawatts Saltan River HPP, and 40 Megawatts Mabaca River HPP, additional projects on the Mabaca are being agreed upon with DOE.

Saltan D HPP is within the Dao-angan, Salogsog, and Poswoy sub-tribes while Saltan E is within the lands of Limos subtribes in Pinukpuk as well as the Dao-angan and Poswoy sub-tribes in Balbalan.

Meantime, the Mabaca River HPP is within the Mabaca and Buaya sub-tribes in Balbalan.

The company, in partnership with the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples - Kalinga, conducted various Information Education Campaigns in the barangays having concerns or those who could be affected by the projects. These include Barangays of Apatan, Allaguia, Asibanglan, Limos and Ba-ay in Pinukpuk and Barangays Ab-abaan, Dao-angan and Poswoy in Balbalan.

On Saturday, November 5, 2022, JWPI alongside the EnviSynergy Corporation, conducted a site visit and Information Education Campaign in Barangay Buaya,Balbalan as part of the Environmental Impact Assessment Process of the proposed 40 MW Buaya HPP.

Process to be Undertaken before project implementation

DOE awarded the HSC 2022- 01 -912, the project contract to JWPI as the "RE Developer."

According to the terms of the HSC contract, it is the proponent’s responsibility to report the operations, including ocular site inspections, permissions, and financial expenditures to deliver the project to international standards.

FPIC Process

Since hydropower projects are within the domains of Indigenous Peoples, the projects will undergo processes as prescribed by the Indigenous People's Rights Act of 1997 (IPRA Law), thus the conduct of the FPIC process.

FPIC is a mandatory step to ensure indigenous peoples’ right to self-determination. NCIP facilitates the said processes of working with the communities to prepare them and make them well-informed.

The process would help them understand the project’s outcome and changes - the pros and cons - they will bring to their community, culture, and livelihood.

Environmental Compliance Certificate

The Environmental Compliance Certificate or ECC refers to the document issued by the DENR-EMB that allows a proposed project to proceed to the next stage of project planning, which is the acquisition of approvals from other government agencies and LGUs, after which the project can start implementation.

In this process, the impacts of the proposed projects on the environment and the people residing and using the resources in the area will be assessed. The EnviSynergy Corporation will be assisting JWPI in order to comply with requirements in the acquisition of said certificate.

Water Permits

Aside from the ECC, the company would also be needing Water Permits to be issued by the National Water Resources Board (NWRB) granting privilege or water rights to appropriate and use water.

Water permits are granted by the NWRB for the following purposes: domestic, irrigation, power, fisheries, industrial, livestock, recreational and commercial.

System Impact Study

Moreover, a system impact study will also be conducted. Said process is an engineering study that assesses the impact of a proposed interconnection or transmission service request on the safety and reliability of a transmission system.

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