NIA writes Martinez Vicente they are ready for dialogue to clear Bulanao Hydro issues

Tabuk City, Kalinga - National Irrigation Association writes Ex officio member Martinez Vicente to respond to the recommendation of the council to temporarily suspend the business permit of Bulanao Hydro Electric Power Plant.

It was Vicente who presided over the session when the council adopted the recommendation for the temporary suspension on July 5, 2021.

The letter of NIA Regional Manager Benito T. Espique Jr. quoted the part in which the recommendation stated the reasons of their basis and conditions that should be met until the suspension shall be lifted and later elaborated that the issues have already been resolved.

Part of Resolution No. 150 series of 2021

“Resolved as it is hereby done to recommend the temporary suspension of the Business Permit of the operation of the BHEPP until such time that the issues of the farmer-beneficiaries as contained in the aforementioned Joint Investigation Report including the payment of the rental fee, shall have been addressed or complied.”

According to the letter, there were 9 issues and concerns raised during the Joint Investigation Team conference on August 25, 2020.

1. Construction of larger headgate of the BHEPP

2. Construction of perimeter fence enclosing the whole area of power plant

3. Over-diversion of water to the BHEPP

4. Larger volume of water diverted at TSC #1

5. Siltation along the Main Diversion Canal (MDC)

6. Siltation along the lateral canal

7. Fluctuation of water diversion

8. Additional one (1) foot freeboard at the inlet of siphon at station 0+560

9. Padlock for the old TSC # headgate

The agreements over the issues, as stated in the letter, were already addressed.

Issue on BHEPP as the cause of flooding

NIA investigated the alleged over diversion of water by the BHEPP which, according to the complaints, caused flooding to a nearby community in Bulanao Norte.

The letter stated that “field validations showed that during heavy rains, surface runoffs amplify the floodwaters from the creek flooding portions of the nearby community” and that they cannot establish that the cause of the flooding is the Bulanao Hydro.

Issue on shortage of water supply

One of the issues was that the Bulanao Hydro is the reason behind the shortage of water in Nambaran, Agbannawag, Lacnog, and parts of Mallig and Isabela, affecting the farmers.

According to NIA, their technical assessment of the operations personnel of NIA-KIMO, “the office maintains full control of the supply of irrigation water going to the aforementioned downstream areas.”

The letter explained that Bulanao Hydro is not the cause why the water supply cannot be maximized. Rather, it is the limited intake of the UCRIS Dam and the heavily silted irrigation facilities that affect the water supply.

Rental fees

According to NIA, the DPJ Engineers and Consultants “had continuously complied with his monetary obligation to pay his rental fees on time based on what is stipulated in the Memorandum Agreement.

The latter part of the letter said that NIA does not have any reason to support the closure of the Bulanao Hydro, whose business permit has been recommended to be temporarily suspended.

NIA also said the office is open to conduct a dialogue with the Sangguniang Panlungsod for a more detailed discussion.

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