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Ifugao folk consulted on dam
By Robie Halip

TINOC, Ifugao---The National Commission on Indigenous Peoples Ifugao Office with engineer Cesar Soriano of the Sta. Clara Corp. recently conducted a consultation among the stakeholders of the proposed Tinoc Mini Hydro Dam in Eheb, Binablayan and Poblacion in this town for the acquisition of Free Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC).

Stakeholders and host communities had prepared a list of assistance and projects they wished to ask from the corporation, the proponent of the said project, which is planning to construct a 2.5 megawatt mini-hydro power plant at the Baugan River in Eheb.

The dam to be constructed will be a run-off type with approximately 2.1 kilometers headrace. The powerhouse will be located at Sitio Manguh-unnoh in Eheb.

NCIP officials said it was agreed upon during the FPIC that Ifugao Electric Cooperative will manage distribution of electricity in the Ifugao side as they will be buying from Sta Clara the electricity that will be produced by the dam.

IFELCO will install transmission lines and electric posts to different barangays of Tinoc.
The excess generated electricity will be sold to Benguet Electric Coop. as the grid of Tinoc is nearer to the grid line of Sinipsip.

Assistance and projects requested by the host communities were discussed by the proponent and the stakeholders facilitated by the NCIP representative.

A memorandum of agreement was signed after the FPIC in Eheb and Poblacion. The MOA for barangay Binablayan is still pending as one of the stakeholders is not amenable to the price being offered by the proponent for his lot.

In the MOA, the SCC will operate the dam for eight years.

Gov. Teddy Baguilat, Jr. was one of the witnesses in the MOA. He cited the importance of protecting watersheds being the lifeblood of the dams and terraces.

He added in return, the watershed keepers should also be rewarded.