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Kalinga town geothermal energy project launched

PASIL, Kalinga - With the issuance of the Certificate of Free Prior Informed Consent (FPIC) by the five Indigenous Communities of this town, the Geothermal Pasil Project was formally launched with Gov. Floydelia R. Diasen and Mayor James Edduba leading stakeholders in accepting the project during the recent Digdiga Festival.

According to the National Commission for Indigenous Peoples of Kalinga, this development initiates the exploration of geothermal power source in Pasil by the Aragorn Power and Energy Corp. (APEC) and the Guidance Management Corp. (GMC).

The exploration is seen not only to provide cheaper and renewable energy source for the host municipality and probably some parts of the province but this could also generate more employment in the locality powering progress for Pasil.

In her message, Diasen warned APEC-GMC explorers to follow the memorandum of agreement to the letter, saying if any violation or complaint from the people is reported, she would be the first to react and take special attention to look into any allegation.

“Understand that the land is very precious to the Kalinga people who protect it with their life,” she said advising the investors to make good of their promise. She said that stakeholders want to showcase said project to invite more investors in the province eventually easing the province’s problems and needs ranging from infrastructure, socio-economic programs and employment.

As stakeholders, the governor called on the people and officials to be “very vigilant” so that the project would serve its purpose of alleviating the socio-economic conditions of the people.

“The rights of the IPs of these lands that has become an extension of who they are should be respected, not only by the investors but by the government as a matter of public policy,” she said urging the concerned agencies to strengthened their coordination in protecting these rights giving emphasis that the preservation of these resources should be enhanced following the indigenous customs and practices of the Kalinga people.

The five IP Pasil communities that gave their FPIC allowing the exploration include Colayo, Balatoc, Guinaang, Dangtalan, and Dalupa-Ableg.

Preceding this progression was the recent signing of the Kalinga Geothermal Service Contract last Sept. 24 this year by Secretary Angelo Reyes for the Department of Energy, Willy Ocier for APEC and Joaquin Rodriguez for the GMC.

In a related development, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ecently signed an executive order launching the Generating Investments in Geothermal Areas (GIGA) in support to the geothermal host communities in their effort to help reduce the country’s reliance on fossil fuels through the generation of renewable energy eventually helping the country face the global challenges such as the increase in oil prices and global warming. -- GGD/PIA-Kalinga