Wednesday, November 08, 2006
Local governments asked to prepare investment codes
TO ENSURE that benefits from the development of water resources would profit the communities, the local government units (LGUs) should come up with their respective investment codes, a Benguet official said.
With the increasing number of local firms interested to develop mini-hydro plants in various towns in the province, Board Member Aloysius Kato said there is a need for the LGUs to prepare their own local investment codes to guarantee that communities get their rightful share.
Several power-generating companies, mostly owned by local investors, are working out their respective proposals to develop water resources in the province.
Various LGUs, meanwhile, are receptive to the projects with the end view that these would pour in more capital to the localities.
Among the locally owned companies is the Benguet Power Resources Development Corporation (BPRDC), which has pending proposals in the towns of Atok and Buguias.
The Northern Luzon Power Corporation (NLPC) has also entered into a memorandum of agreement (MOA) in one of the barangays in Bokod for the proposed erection of a mini-power generating plant here. Another local firm, the Cordillera Power Corporation (CPC), meanwhile is proposing to tap the Amburayan River in Kapangan to develop it into a mini-hydro.
But aside from the economic benefits that would be derived from the mini-hydros, the board member cautioned the LGUs to consider the environmental and social acceptability aspects in the put up of these power plants.
"The LGUs should not only focus on the economic but also give importance to the environmental and social aspects of the mini-hydro developments," said Kato, who chairs the Provincial Board (PB) committee on environment. (JC)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Pangasinan. (November 8, 2006 issue)
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