Wednesday, October 04, 2006 Power firm to raise Asin hydro land issues with city By Jane Cadalig
WHILE a contract is yet to be finalized between the City Government and Hydro Electric Development Corporation (Hedcor) on the management of the city-owned Asin hydro plants in Tuba, Benguet, landowners in the barangays where the plants are located were assured that problems on rights-of-way would be dealt with properly.
Hedcor president Rene Ronquillo said the company would coordinate with the City Government regarding right-of-way issues. But he said the power firm assumed that these were already settled by the city, being the owner of the power plants.
The company is managing the city-owned power plants in Barangays Tadiangan and Nangalisan pending the finalization of the terms of reference for the bidding of the power plants' management.
The Baguio Water District (BWD), which managed the hydros for the past 25 years, did not renew its contract with the city, which lapsed August 31.
Miguel Romero Salas, Hedcor's vice president for administration, also expressed optimism that the city would address all land issues in the preparation of the long-term plan for the power plants' management.
The officials were responding to a query from a landowner on what assurances could Hedcor give them relative to the issue.
The landowners, whose properties are traversed by the conveyance pipes leading to and from the power plants, have asked for just compensation in the use of their lots.
Hedcor is still negotiating with the City Government as regards the hydros' operation. The firm earlier denied allegations that a negotiated deal has already been entered between the city and the company.
Ronquillo explained that the company is merely working on a proposal for the rehabilitation of the facilities, claiming major repairs were long overdue. He said they could not just implement rehabilitation works without entering into an interim agreement with the city, considering that a huge amount of money is needed to repair the hydros.
He said the firm would need around P40 million to implement repairs, adding that without an agreement, they would prefer turning-over the management of the hydros to the city.
(October 4, 2006 issue) Write letter to the editor. Click here. Join the Sun.Star message board. Click here.
