NPC wants to tap P426.71-million fund to manage watersheds

by BusinessMirror - March 16, 2016
http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/npc-wants-to-tap-p426-71-million-fund-to-manage-watersheds/


THE National Power Corp. (NPC) wants to tap P426.71 million of the environmental fund from the Universal

Charge (UC) to pay for the rehabilitation and management of the nation’s watersheds.

The state firm said it is entitled to the Environmental Charge (EC) equivalent to one-fourth of one centavo per kilowatt-hour sales, which forms part of the UC. This environmental fund is intended solely for watershed rehabilitation and management.

Under Executive Order 224, NPC has jurisdiction and control over the following watersheds: Upper Agno

Watershed Reservation, Angat Watershed Reservation, Caliraya-Lumot Watershed Reservation, Makiling- Banahaw Goethermal Reservations, Buhi-Barit Watershed, and Tiwi Geothermal Reservation.

NPC is required to submit to the ERC a petition for availment of the UC-EC in relation to the proposed watershed rehab and management projects on or before March 15 every year.


“In order to attain the objectives, NPC would need to avail and utilize the funds from the UC-EC amounting

to a total of P426,710,057.72,” the NPC stated in its 10-page application.

The proposed amount, among others, will be used to plant abut 1.3 million trees; protect more than 150,000 hectares of land; reduce soil erosion; increase biodiversity; strengthen the Watershed Task Force that was created to protect and conserve the watersheds; provide income through livelihood projects; and provide employment to more or less 1,000 individuals from the local community.

The NPC said it will conduct consultations with the local government units where the projects will be situated.