WE SHARE a recent resolution of the board of director of the Board of Directors of the Benguet Electric Cooperative led by President Nick Aliping relative to the urgent need to stop the issuance of water rights and permits to private firms to develop mini-hydros that would leave the region with nothing to anchor its development should Cordillera autonomy be pursued:
A resolution requesting the cordillera regional development council to request the department of energy and the national water resources board to issue a moratorium on the issuance of permits for hydroelectric plant projects and water rights in the Cordillera without prior knowledge and consent of the Cordillera regional development council and the would-be host communities, municipalities and provinces.
WHEREAS, the National Water Resources Board has been issuing water rights over portions of rivers in the Cordillera without prior knowledge and consent of the region and the communities hosting these water resources.
WHEREAS, in the same token, the Department of Energy has been issuing permits for the construction of hydroelectric dams in the Cordillera using water rights without prior knowledge and consent of the region and the communities hosting theses water resource;
WHEREAS, curiously, the “informed prior rights” consultations with the host communities are done only after the permit to develop and the water rights have been issued in a “cart-before-the-horse” scenario;
WHEREAS, the proliferation of water rights and hydroelectric power development permits in the Cordilllera has led to the depletion of resources that the region, on its own, can eventually tap and develop for its own growth; likewise;
WHEREAS, the proliferation of water rights and hydro-electric plant development by and for giant and even foreign-led companies continues to be an irritant between them and residents of host communities who are often the last to know that their water resources have become the subject of water rights of outsiders out to develop them into hydroelectric facilities;
WHEREAS, the debilitating impact of these would be deeply felt should the region succeed in its quest for autonomy or self-rule as there would be no more water resources it can develop to spur its own progress, as these have been assigned to private companies;
WHEREAS, the idea and viability for the region to own hydroelectric plant for its own development through grant support has already been shown in Ifugao Province where the G-7 Countries commissioned Japan as a member in developing the Ambangal Mini-Hydro in Kiangan town and then turning this over to the municipal government, with the condition that part of the income generation from its operation shall be used for the restoration and protection of the rice terraces in Kiangan, Mayoyao, Banaue and Hungduan owns where the most extensive terraces are found. Likewise, the Japan International International Development Agency has financed and is now constructing a bigger hydroelectric dam in Ifugao which shall be turned over to the province once completed;
WHEREAS, the potential of the region in obtaining support through fund grants to develop hydroelectric plants would dramatically improve should the Cordillera become an autonomous region, with hydro-electricity development becoming a crucial driver in the region’s development and providing substance to autonomy;
NOW THEREFORE, on motion duly seconded, be it
RESOLVED, to request the Regional Development Council of the Cordillera to:
1.Urgently request the National Water Resources Board and the Department of Energy to declare a moratorium on the issuance of water rights and hydroelectric development permits in the Cordillera, except to the communities who have been host to these water resources since time immemorial;
2.Urgently request the National Water Resources Board and the Department of Energy to provide the region, the host province and host municipality information on previous water rights and energy development permits;
3.Request the National Water Resources Board and the Department of Energy to obtain the endorsement of the would-be host region, host province and host community before approving applications for water rights and energy development in the Cordillera;
4.Request the National Water Resources Board and the Department of Energy to cancel water rights and permits for energy development in any part of the Cordillera if these are opposed by the would-be host communities and local government units;
RESOLVED FURTHER, that copies of this resolution be provided to the provinces and other local governments in the Cordillera and electric cooperatives in the region and the other parts of the country, for their information and endorsement or adoption of similar resolutions.
UNANIMOUSLY ADOPTED this 26th day of September 2017.