LAGAWE, Ifugao – An additional power source will soon rise in the province as the 17.4-megawatt Kiangan Mini Hydroelectric Power Project (KMHPP) broke ground.
Representatives of Alternergy, Santa Clara International Corporation, the local government units of Kiangan and Lagawe, National Commission on Indigenous Peoples, Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office, elders, some community members, and other project partners led the ground breaking ceremony of the KMHPP in Barangay Mungayang in Kiangan.
Bishop Valentin Dimoc of the Bontoc-Lagawe Vicariate officiated the blessing of the project site and equipment, followed by a simple fellowship program with project partners and the host communities of Bokiawan, Dalligan, and Mungayang in Kiangan and Cudog in Lagawe.
Senior Project Manager Isabelo Fernandez said the 17.4-MW KMHP, which costs around P5 billion, is expected to be completed by June 29, 2023 to benefit Ifugao and other nearby provinces.
“We will be constructing two hydro power plants. It will be located at the Ibulao power house and the other one at the Ahin-Hungduan power house,” he said.
Water coming from the Hungduan headrace will pass through a 3.8-kilometer box culvert towards the Ahin-Hungduan power house. Likewise, water from the Ahin headrace will pass through about a 2.8-km box culvert going to the Ahin-Hung-duan power house. Water from the Ahin-Hungduan power house will again be conveyed through about a 3.8-km box culvert to the Ibulao power house,” Fernandez said.
“This one will not cause any flooding because the water will pass through a concrete box culvert,” he added.
Kiangan Mayor Raldis Andrei Bu-layungan said the local government unit ensured proper processes involving the affected communities and project proponents, including getting prior consent and addressing the concerns of host communities and other stakeholders, were followed.
“The LGU hosted the meetings between the barangay officials and council of elders of the host communities, particularly Bokiawan, Daligan, and Munggayang. We were together with the NCIP in facilitating dialogues so they were able to explain to the people their rights with respect to their land,” Bulayu-ngan said.
Oxygen tanks, medical equipment, printer, and desktop computer set, were also turned over to the host barangays.
KMHPP is a joint project of Renova, Alternergy, Santa Clara International Corporation, the provincial government, Kiangan and Lagawe LGUs; and barangays Dalligan, Bokiawan, Mungayang, and Cudog. – PIA
