DOE HQ, Taguig City - After a series of meetings and consultations, NIA Administrator Florencio Padernal and DOE Secretary Jericho Petilla finally signed on April 30, 2015 a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) regarding the development of Hydroelectric Power Plants along the irrigation canals of National Irrigation Systems (NISs) nationwide.
At present, there is about 350 potential sites that are being eyed for projects with various power generation capacities ranging from 300 kW to 1000 kW and above. The NIA and DOE will jointly evaluate the potential project sites to ensure feasibility. Moreover, guidelines for the project are being finalized to ensure smooth implementation and optimum results.
Sec. Petilla encouraged NIA to pursue the project in partnership with the private sector who will finance the construction and operation of the hydropower facilities. In line with this, an Investors' Forum is in the works to meet possible companies that will fund the projects.
This endeavor will be a joint effort that will not just boost NIA's income generation but also will contribute in the provision of electricity in rural communities in the country. Once the projects are operational, NIA will continue to focus on the operation of the irrigation canals while incurring income from the privately operated hydropower projects.
