POWER generation firm Hedcor Inc. withdrew all its applications for water rights in Kapangan, officials of the company said.

Ma. Elena Salita, Hedcor’s liaison officer, said the company withdrew the water permit applications it filed over the Amburayan River, until consultations with the indigenous communities are done.

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Hedcor has filed six water rights applications, covering the towns of Atok, Kibungan, and Kapangan.

Company officials said it was better to withdraw the applications while communities are not yet consulted and until the indigenous peoples concerned have given their endorsement.

The power generating firm filed application for water rights in Atok for the three projects it identified in the town, but Hedcor said it will not pursue these due to the community’s opposition.

Two projects in Kibungan and Kapangan were also identified but the same have yet to be implemented until the conduct of Free Prior Informed Consent among the affected communities.

In Kapangan, Salita said the company has yet to complete the feasibility study for the proposed power plants to be built along the Amburayan River.

The river is being tapped for the proposed operations of power plants.

Earlier, indigenous peoples of Kapangan alleged that Hedcor plans to divert the waters of the Amburayan River to generating plants in nearby Bakun town.

This fear was dispelled by Hedcor officials, saying its Bakun plants are of higher elevation than the Amburayan source so the diversion could not possibly be done.