Agus-pulangi, the best way to power Mindanao, prospects say

SUSTAINABILITY advocates have long been urging the government to prioritize the rehabilitation of the Agus-Pulangi Hydropower plant in Mindanao as it is completely renewable, and it will never run out unless the water stops flowing.

“The Rehabilitation of Agus-pulangi, is the best way to power Mindanao,” said Power for People Coalition (P4P) convenor Gerry Arances, adding that as a result, hydro plants are built to last.

The government, Arances said must not stop at rehabilitating Agus-Pulangi –there has to be a comprehensive plan to make access to the vast potential for renewables in Mindanao within reach of every household.

An earlier environmental report said that in some cases, equipment that was built to last 25 years is still operational after.

Renewable Energy investments have already saved the Philippines P4.04 billion, according to a Philippine Electricity Market Corporation (PEMC) report.

Climate change solutions-provider World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF-Philippines) said that offsetting the cost of expensive fossil fuels saved each Pinoy consumer 5.67 centavos, simultaneously generating more local jobs and reducing the country’s share of carbon emissions by an impressive 2.8 million tons.

“With the government’s Philippine Development Plan for 2017 until 2022 now being finalized, we challenge the government to increase the share of RE to 50% by 2030,” explains WWF-Philippines climate and energy program head Atty. Gia Ibay.

“Green and sustainable development fit perfectly with the administration’s mantra of Malasakit, Pagbabago at Kaunlaran because RE provides affordable, sustainable, and accessible electricity – especially for remote communities.”

Clean and renewable energy sources like geothermal, hydro, wind, biomass and solar energy are among the country’s few competitive advantages – especially since it has no significant deposits of fossil fuels.

“We are keeping an eye out lest the rehabilitation is used as a prelude to the privatization of the facilities ― a matter which communities and advocates have been resisting for the longest time.

Its continued dependence on imported fuel has made Philippine electricity rates among the highest in Asia, he said.

Arances added this rehabilitation project cannot be a token effort for sustainability, which it will be if plans to eventually phase out coal and to halt the planned entry of another dirty energy source ― fossil gas ― are nowhere in sight.

We also raise concern over the decision to pursue the rehabilitation project once again through a loan, set to be managed by the Department of Finance.

Earlier, green groups have divulged that the Philippine government pushed for more climate finance but doesn’t pledge to stop building new coal plants in Mindanao.

“The government pushed for more climate finance, but doesn’t vow to stop building new coal plants,” said Arances, after the delegation led by Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III attended the climate summit last October 31.

Arances said this is now certainly a welcome direction of the Philippine government, after allowing the installed capacity of coal in Mindanao to rise by nearly ten times in the last decade – from 232 MW to 2,089 MW.

Dominguez, according to Arances has been positioning itself as an authority not only in finance but also in climate engagements, and endeavors like the Agus-Pulangi facilities that have great potential to become a gateway for access to climate financing for the climate-vulnerable Philippines.

“This loan becomes a terrible precedent for how financing for an energy transition will look like in the country amid a global economic crisis and intensifying climate change,” said Arances.

He said it also opens concerns on impacts on the affordability of electricity from Agus-Pulangi, and who would be shouldering additional costs from borrowed funds for its rehabilitation.