Ifugao mini-hydro plant employs locals

By Marcelo B. Lihgawon

ASIPULO, Ifugao -- Aside from providing clean energy, the newly inaugurated Likud Mini-Hydro Power Development Project in Barangay Haliap here has opened  jobs for local residents.

At least 10 residents here were hired to manage the LMPDP which  the  Department of Energy formally turned over to the province  last month in a ceremony attended by community,  government and Japanese officials.

LMPDP is funded by a grant aid from the Japanese government through the Japan International Cooperation Agency as token of friendship and cooperation between the two countries.

According to engineer Carmelita Buyuccan, provincial planning and development coordinator,  hired job orders  consist of a plant supervisor, six plant operators and three water guards,  who  passed training and requirement needed for the job.

The provincial local government unit will pay daily wages of plant workers.

The mini-hydro project that covers the host barangays of Haliap and Panubtuban of Asipulo and Barangay Duit of Kiangan is set to boost the Rice Terraces Conservation Fund for preservation of the rice terraces and stabilize energy supply with lower electric tariff in the province.

Meanwhile, Undersecretary Donato Marcos who represented DOE  Energy Sec. Zenaida Monsada as keynote speaker during the inauguration,  handed to Gov. Denis Habawel the key of responsibility for the management of the LMPDP.

In her speech read by Marcos, Monsada stated that the LMPDP is a collaboration between the Japanese government through the JICA and the Philippine government through the DOE and National Economic and Development Authority.

It is one of two projects under grant agreement executed last April 30, 2013, to promote viability and sustainability of loan agreement via mini-hydro power system by irrigation canal.

The power plant will generate revenues to fund support and rehabilitate and preserve the rice terraces consistent with the advocacy of the Japanese and Philippine governments to augment energy supply and minimize greenhouse gas emission to protect the environment, she added.

With the implementation of Renewable Energy law of 2008, the government has provided generous fiscal and non-fiscal incentives to renewable energy developers and suppliers and manufacturers to accelerate development of renewable energy sources towards achieving a green economy and protecting the environment for the future generation.

Habawel lauded the Japanese government, DOE, Ifugao officials and the community including the local contractor and workers for the construction of the  LMPDP.

“Although it went through a lot of challenges during the construction period, it’s a situation you will see all sectors came together towards the same objectives and resolved whatever problem that came along the way,” Habawel said.

He also thanked the DOE for approving the project and allowing themselves to be the conduit to bring aid from the Japanese government through the JICA to the people of Ifugao.