6 Benguet towns eyed as energy producers

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet — Hydropower developers here said six towns of this province Benguet are potential sources of clean energy because of their rich natural resources which could be tapped to improve living conditions of the poor people in the rural areas.

Based on initial assessments done by hydropower developers, the areas which have a good potential of producing quality clean power include the towns of Kibungan, Kabayan, Atok, Mankayan, Kapangan, and Tuba.

They said these towns could serve as a source of electricity where run-off river mini-hydro power plants can be tapped.

Some companies, including the Benguet Electric Coop. will be starting the free and prior informed consent process for Kapangan and Buguias after they have received the authorization from the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples.

At present, Benguet is hosting the Ambuclao and Binga power plants as well as numerous mini-hydro plants located in the towns of Baku, La Trinidad, Tuba and Sablan.

Aside from employment opportunities for residents in host communities once the power plants will be established, the developers would also be paying rentals to the lands of those whose areas will be affected and will be traversed by the conveyor pipes, thus, it would mean income for the people in the identified potential hydropower plant areas.

Moreover, the developers will also be paying the corresponding share of the local governments as mandated by law, thus, more projects will surely be implemented in the host communities for socio-economic activities.

However, some of the developers are expected to encounter stiff opposition from various affected indigenous cultural communities and indigenous peoples because of the bad precedent set by some developers in the province which they do not want to experience in the future. – Dexter A. See