By Danessa Rivera (The
Philippine Star) | Updated April 3, 2016 - 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines – The Aetas of
Pastolan in Subic Bay Freeport has approved the expansion of the green energy
project being built by renewable energy (RE) firm Emerging Power Inc. in their
ancestral land.
The Aeta group ratified the
expansion of the wind and solar energy projects as part of their commitment to
sustainable development.
“We are proud that the Pastolan
Aetas have been very supportive in achieving this milestone. This partnership
is a shining example of how the preservation of heritage and sustainable
development can work together without being compromised,” Subic Bay
Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) chairman Roberto Garcia said.
SBMA, through EPI, will allocate
$200 million for its renewable energy project totaling 150 megawatts (MW) in
capacity.
The development will cover 800
hectares in Mount Santa Rita, a Pastolan ancestral land, in compliance with the
Joint Management Agreement (JMA) that was signed and witnessed on October 10,
2013 by SBMA, the Pastolan Tribal Council, and the National Commission on
Indigenous Peoples (NCIP).
The JMA was forged to protect and
preserve the rights of the Aetas, along with the implementation of
socio-economic and cultural development programs by SBMA.
Last October, EPI broke ground in
its wind and solar power farm, which is eyed to be the biggest facility of its
kind in Southeast Asia.
Garcia assured the Pastolan Aetas
will benefit from this expansion, same with the turnover of a P14.8-million
cheque to the Aetas as payment for lease rentals by the locators within the
ancestral domain.
“We are giving priority to the Aetas
as far as hiring for the construction of more solar and wind power plants is
concerned. The welfare of our indigenous brothers will always be important to
us,” he said.
The expansion project is a
collaborative action of SBMA and the Indigenous Peoples to uphold RA 9513 or
the Renewable Energy Act of 2008 by investing on RE projects.
This also serves as their support to
the global commitment of the Philippines to reduce greenhouse gas emission at
the 2015 Paris Climate Conference.
“With Subic as the first military
base to be successfully converted into a Freeport zone, we are determined to
play a vital role in the preservation of both cultural heritage and the
environment with the installation of a major clean energy project in
partnership with Indigenous Peoples,” Garcia said.
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