SN ABOITIZ Power (SNAP) vowed to abide by government processes in acquiring consent for the Alimit Hydropower Project.
Lawyer Mike Hosillos, SNAP vice president and chief corporate officer, said in a statement they are not imposing the Alimit Hydropower Project on the people of Ifugao.
“We strive to work with the people concerned who, on the whole, we understand are right behind the project. We cannot and will not undertake the project without obtaining all the necessary consents,” Hosillos said.
Hosillos added SNAP is aware that some people from Lamut and Lagawe still have concerns and questions about the proposed Alimit Hydropower Project.
“The scale of the proposed project is unprecedented in Ifugao so not only do we welcome questions, we encourage them. That is why we continue to engage in a constructive manner to allow informed discussions and to surface concerns that people may have so they can be addressed and mitigated,” Hosillos added.
Hosillos explained the process for the free prior and informed consent (FPIC) has taken almost four years.
“So far and that alone speaks for how much respect we have for the process and for the people deciding on the project. This year, we completed securing the approvals from the four ancestral domains and the endorsement from the four LGUs covered by the project – an indication of the choice of the majority of the people covered by the project,” Hosillos said.
SNAP added the company will continue to work with the IPOs, the LGUs, and government agencies to address any outstanding issues so they may be resolved in a constructive way, so that the people of Ifugao can prosper from the considerable social and economic benefits that will emanate from the project should it proceed.
Nestor Peralta said fears for safety may be behind the dwindling support over opposition against the Sn Aboitiz Alimit Hydro project in Ifugao.
From Lagawe town, Peralta filed the petition to the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples – Cordillera Monday morning, reiterating opposition to the Sn Aboitiz Alimit Hydro project.
The petition stressed the group manifested they do not want the tunneling component of the project and manifested they likewise do not want the diversion of the Ibulao River.
“We have manifested that our petition was not addressed by SN Aboitiz or they refused to do so as they are only eager to in presenting their project and setting aside our questions,” Peralta added.