The National Irrigation Administration and PNOC Renewables Corporation signed the Memorandum of Agreement on November 7, 2012 for the establishment and operations of a hydropower plant in existing irrigation canals in selected sites within the Upper Pampanga River Integrated Irrigation System (UPRIIS). Four (4) sites have already been validated and it was estimated to produce at least 3,000 KW. Two sites are still subject to validation.
The MOA was signed by NIA Administrator Antonio S. Nangel and PNOC Renewables Corporation OIC-President and CEO Roger Victor E. Buendia. Earlier on, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed by and between DA Secretary Proceso J. Alcala and DOE Secretary Carlos Jericho L. Petilla. The MOU expresses support and assistance to the newly formed cooperation between NIA and PNOC RC in the establishment and operations of hydropower plants in existing NIA irrigation canals.
In a short message delivered by Secretary Alcala, he said that the MOA signing is a concrete manifestation of collaboration and maximized utilization of resources by various agencies to give joy to the people especially those in the countryside. Along this line, he instructed NIA Administrator Nangel to identify possible sites in Mindanao and to submit to him the list not later than the end of this month (November). He said that these hydropower plant projects in Mindanao are great help in that area because they have been experiencing intermittent power shortages.
On the part of NIA Administrator Nangel, he initially thank the Secretary for the support in this undertaking. He also informed that his plan do not end with hydropower plants in irrigation canals but also putting up of potable water. He said that there are about 150 sites already validated nationwide for hydropower plants and identification of sites for potable water is ongoing.
DOE Secretary Petilla said that the MOU / MOA signing is very significant in that our country have been looking for sources of electricity, and these projects once completed will provide electricity at a very low cost.
PNOC Renewables Corporation OIC President and CEO Buendia also said that this undertaking is very significant in that it could help in the rural electrification program of the government in collaboration with the NIA.
Incidentally, NIA is an attached agency of the Department of Agriculture while PNOC Renewables Corporation is a subsidiary of PNOC under the Department of Energy.
