IPs air benefits from solar project in Olongapo City

AP Renewable Energy Corp. (APREC), a subsidiary of Aboitiz Renewables, Inc., has employed indigenous peoples (IPs) residing near their solar farm in Olongapo City, Zambales, citing that many of their tribal members do not need to go far to earn a living.

During a recent interview with the elders and members of the IP communities in Sitio Mampueng and Sitio Tralala at Barangay Old Cabalan, the group said, "Sa akin naman po, 'yung solar na 'yan, maganda po sa kalooban ko 'yan kasi marami pong natulungan po rito sa amin."

The interviewees included Zenaida Liwanag, Former Barangay IPMR of Old Cabalan and is now with the Tribal Council of Mampueng; Fely Liwanag, Sitio Mampueng elder; Teresita Delajunta Rivera, Sitio Mampueng elder; Ferdinand De Los Santos, Sitio Tralala chieftain; Vicente Padilla, Sitio Tralala resident; and Janet Padilla, Sitio Tralala tribal kagawad.

"Unang-una, wala na pong lumalayo na mga katutubo para sa trabaho 'tsaka marami din pong katutubo na naturuan na mag-electrical, 'yung mga nagtatrabaho sa solar, marami po talagang natuto diyan na mga katutubo kaya kahit saan po sila dadayo sa pagtatrabaho nila, may kakayanan na po sila kasi naka-training na po sila dito sa amin sa solar," they said.

Meanwhile, the group cited that their community has benefitted from the project, adding that they also receive royalty. "Ang royalty po, kasi po, nung dumating po ang Aboitiz sa amin, nakipag-ugnayan po sa NCIP (National Commission on Indigenous Peoples). Ngayon po, lumapit po ang NCIP, at ang, ang grupo po ng Aboitiz sa amin," they said.

Both the company and the NCIP discussed plans for investing at their area, asking if the community would allow the two to establish a business at the area.

"Pero mahabang proseso po 'yan eh. Kasi, ang alam po namin, bago po kami papayag, gusto naman po naming malaman 'yung mga kondisyon. Eh maganda naman po ang kondisyon ng Aboitiz sa amin. Binigyan po kami ng tulay, binigyan kami ng royalty 'pag umuulan at bumabaha, mayroon po silang ipinamimigay na bigas po sa amin bilang tulong, school supply... tapos 'pag mayroon pong mga patay po sa amin, tinutulungan din po nila para po sa financial assistance po," the group said.

"Iyun po 'yung naitulong sa amin ng uh Aboitiz sa amin. Kaya po, ang solar po sa amin, biyaya po sa amin, hindi po 'yan salot. Kundi biyaya po 'yan sa amin," they added.

Aboitiz Renewables Inc., through wholly-owned subsidiary AP Renewable Energy Corporation, signed a P7.4-billion project finance deal with the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) to fund the engineering, construction, operation, and maintenance of the 221 megawatt peak (MWp) Olongapo solar power plant in Zambales.

The company has received flak, with some of the residents alleging that the reason why the city has experienced flooding is due to the solar farm, with Phase 2 facing active pushback from local communities over environmental and watershed concerns.

Residents and local officials have blamed land clearing and ground modifications from Phase 1 for worsening flash floods and soil erosion in downstream areas.