The National Commission on Indigenous Peoples-Cordillera Administrative Region (NCIP-CAR) issued a formal notice on the dormancy of Cordillera Hydro Electric Power Corporation’s (COHECO) 60 MW hydropower project, affecting Kapangan and Kibungan communities in Benguet.
“Please be informed that there are reports being received by the office alleging the dormancy of the HEPP. Be advised that your failure to commence with the construction of the 60MW Coheco HEPP is also a failure to your obligations to the concerned IP/ICCs of Kapangan and Kibungan,” the notice said as quoted in a Sunstar report.
Coheco was required to submit a status report informing the NCIP of the development of the certification of precondition (CP) issued by NCIP favoring the 60 MW hydroelectric power plant (HEPP), as Pursuant to Section 30 of NCIP Administrative Order Series of 2012.
Coheco was also given 15 days to release a statement regarding the matter.
“Should there be no constructions yet despite the lapsed of the already prescribed period following the issuance of the CP, the CP is deemed dormant and thus a ground for cancellation of the CP,” the notice added.
Construction for the 60 MW hydropower plant project started in 2017, covering barangay Badeo in Kibungan and barangays in Kapangan.
Coheco started its power supplier operations in 2008 and is currently in partnership with a Korean investor.