Negros Oriental endorses hydropower project

CEBU, Philippines - Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo signed a memorandum of agreement with Hedcor, endorsing the company’s proposed 22-megawatt hydropower plant, called the Mabinay-Manjuyod Hydropower Project.

The project, Hedcor’s first in the Visayas, will tap the Ilog River to .generate 84 million kilowatt hours annually, an outcome that Degamo said could bring about economic upliftment to the province.

Manjuyod town Mayor Amor Baldado also signed a MOA with Hedcor. “I am giving my full support to the building of this hydropower plant of Hedcor in our community because this will bring numerous benefits to the people,” said the mayor.

The leaders of Barangays New Namangka in Mabinay town and Kauswagan in Manjuyod earlier signed the MOA with Hedcor.

The MOAs contained the benefits the host communities would receive from the project, namely, farm-to-market roads, education and employment opportunities, health services and generation shares, to be given once the plant is operational, that will be above the minimum as provided for in Energy Regulation 1-94.

Before the signing of the MOA, a series of public consultations were conducted in the province, municipalities, and barangays.

Hedcor’s vice president Gregorio “Boy” Jabonillo said: “In our 35 years in the business, we have continued to bring inclusive growth to our host communities by helping them to grow through sustainable social development programs.”

Hedcor is a wholly-owned subsidiary of AboitizPower, with a 47-megawatt generating capacity for Mindanao. (FREEMAN)