The National Power Corporation (Napocor) will spend P431 million for the rehabilitation and management of watershed areas in its jurisdiction this year.
The Plan 14, or the proposed plant for the calendar year 2017, covers the San Roque (Lower Agno) Watershed, the Pantabangan and Magat Watershed shared with the National Irrigation Administration, and Lake – Lanao Agus Rivera and Pulangi Watershed area, which has a memorandum of agreement with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
It also covers the Upper Agno Watershed Reservation, Angat Watershed Reservation, Caliraya – Lumot Watershed Reservation, Makiling – Banahaw Geothermal Reservations, Buhi – Barat Watershed and the Tiwi Geothermal Reservation.
Napocor will rehabilitate 3, 059 hectares with vegetative measures, implement the reduction of sedimentation and soil erosion, and increase the biodiversity of flora and fauna through conservation and ecotourism program.
The fund will come from the environmental funds under the universal charge (UC) that was approved by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC).
The UC is a component in electricity bills to reduce the financial obligations of Napocor that consists of stranded contract cost, missionary charge, and environmental fund.
Under the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA), Napocor is allowed to avail from the EC-environmental fund that is solely intended for watershed rehabilitation and management – as long as it seeks approval from the power regulator.