Hedcor Inc, a subsidiary of Aboitiz Power Corp, has announced plans to put up a total of 120 MW of hydro electric energy power plants in the region of Benguet. The 120 MW energy will be milked from 4 proposed separate hydro electric power plant complexes

They are already conducting feasibility studies in the area and expect to start permit application within 2 years time. Add another two years to that timeframe to construct the plant and you would get the theoretical time line for their plants to begin operations.
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Just recently it was announced that Hedcor, developer of the Tamugan hydro electric power project, had submitted to its main rival, the Davao City Water District (DCWD), a compromise proposal for use of the Tamugan river in order to achieve a “win-win” situation for both parties on the use of the river.

Basically it will mean that Hedcor will only build one hydro electric power plant on the site instead of the planned two and move the plant to a higher elevation. Redesign is expected to be finished in 6 months.
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Hedcor president Rene Ronquillo shared the company’s plans to continue with its permit applications after moves by the Davao City Water District (DCWD) to block its use of the Tamugan for a hydro electric project were denied.

Aside from their approved permit by the National Water Resources Board (NWRB), Hedcor already had already acquired their free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC) of the tribal groups in the project site agreement and their Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
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National Water Resource Board (NWRB) dismissed the protest on Hedcor’s water permit application for the use of the Tamugan River for a hydro electric plant, by the Davao City Water District. Shockingly along with that ruling was the decision of NWRB to declare DCWD’s permit of use on the Tamugan River as null and void.

This is but another chapter in the battle for the use of Tamugan river by the DCWD and Hedcor. DCWD wants to tap the river as a water source to supply the city of Davao while Hedcor wants to build a hydro electric power plant on the river. DCWD had prior approved rights to the river issued by NWRB and used this as one of their arguments for blocking Hedcor’s moves.
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Went to a local mall in Davao and saw that the Davao City Water District (DCWD) had set up a booth in a local SME event to bring forth their side of their opposition on the use of the Tamugan river for a hydro electric power plant by Hedcor Inc.
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Freedom from Debt Coalition (FDC), represented by Wilson Fortaleza, said that with the passage of the Electric Power Industry Act (EPIRA or Republic Act No. 9136), it hastened corporate control over the whole power system and results in “sweetheart deals” between energy distribution companies and power generation companies. This is because the law allows power distribution companies to own power generating companies.

The example he pointed out was that between Aboitiz subsidiaries Davao Light and Hedcor. Davao Light owns electricity distribution rights in Davao City, while Hedcor is into power generation.
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