HYDROPOWER generation forerunner Hedcor is taking a more aggressive role in the environmental movement in the town of Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur following the launching last week of the Gasa Sa Suba (casually translated as “river offering” or “a tribute to the river”) by the local government unit of the town in collaboration with various government and non-government entities like Hedcor.
For its part, Hedcor Sibulan, Inc. will be conducting a series of information drives on solid waste management in Sta. Cruz, particularly in communities along the Sibulan River.
“Hedcor Sibulan, Inc. will be conducting a solid waste management Information drive in various communities in Sta. Cruz this July to raise awareness of the existing environmental issues,” Hedcor vice president Gregorio Jabonillo said.
The launching of the Gasa Sa Suba climaxed with the signing of the Manifesto of Commitment among the participating government and non-government organizations declaring their support for the Ridge to Reef Conservation Project of Sibulan River.
One of the strongest statements of the manifesto is that the Sibulan River is not a limitless resource and must be conserved to sustain and nurture the communities in Sta. Cruz as well as to bring in business and investments to Sta. Cruz.
To date, Gasa Sa Suba is perhaps the most ambitious and serious effort by the Sta. Cruz local government unit to conserve the Sibulan River at the foot of Mt. Apo, the country’s highest mountain.
“We must come together as one. The time is now!,” Sta. Cruz town mayor, Joel Ray Lopez, said during the launching ceremonies.
The Sibulan River is host to Hedcor’s 42.5 MW Sibulan Hydropower Project made up of two run-of-river hydropower plants designed to generate 212 million kilowatt-hours of clean energy annually. As a renewable energy source, the Sibulan Hydropower Project’s energy is expected to prevent the release of more than 95,000 tons of carbon dioxide equivalents (tCO2e) into the atmosphere.
Hedcor Sibulan, Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of AboitizPower. [Angelica May V. Aquino]
