Cagayan de Oro River rafters oppose Bukidnon hydropower plant

Work is starting this year on the Bulanog Batang Hydropower Plant in Talakag town, which will use pressure from the Bulanog and Batang rivers, GMA Northern Mindanao reported Monday.

 

Part of the project, due for completion in 2019, includes a large dam measuring 120 meters tall and 500 meters wide, with a water capacity of 82 million cubic meters.

 

The dam is privately owned, with Northern Mindanao Electric Cooperatives Association having a five-percent stake in it.

 

Its project manager said the dam will use a renewable energy source and will thus be environment-friendly.

 

"Malaki ang maitutulong nito sa buong Mindanao kasi ang kapasidad nito 150 megawatts. Malaki ang maitu-tulong nito kasi renewable energy ito, mura siya kumpara sa oil," said project manager Engineer Cerael Donggay.

 

But the Oro Association of Rafters is against the plant because it could affect the flow of water in the Cagayan River, and the rafting industry there.

 

"Not just rafting industry also the tourism industry. During summer bababa ang tubig sa ilog kasi iko-control ng dam ang tubig so hindi na natural ang flow ng tubig sa ilog," said Oro Association of Rafters president Vitaliano Espulgar.

 

However, Donggay said the dam would not affect whitewater rafting since the plant's four-kilometer diameter does not include the rafting area.

 

"Dahil sa malaki ang maiimbak na tubig during day time, pwede tayong maka release ng malaking volume ng tubig para sa pag generate ng energy o electrisidad. Gagawin natin during daytime so therefore walang epekto sa whitewater rafting. Makakatulong pa ito sa flow ng water," he said.

 

For now, the rafter group is still considering whether it will join a monitoring team on the hydropower plant.  — Joel Locsin/ELR, GMA News