By Bloomberg | Dec. 18, 2014 at
11:15pm
The Philippines’ indigenous Aeta
community has signed an agreement that paves the way for the construction of a
pioneering renewable energy facility on their ancestral land in Subic Bay,
north of Manila.
Aeta tribal chieftain Conrado Frenilla
and Aeta elder Bonifacio Florentino signed a memorandum of agreement on Dec. 12
with the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority and local firm Jobin SQM Inc. for the
$200-million project, SBMA said in a statement.
SBMA is overseeing the conversion of
the former military base into an economic growth center.
Jobin SQM has formed a joint venture
with HydroChina International Engineering Co. for the construction of the
facility, which is targeting 150 megawatts of combined solar and wind energy.
It will be located inside an 800-hectare
(1,977- acre) area of the Aeta ancestral domain on former military base Subic
Bay Freeport Zone, the statement said.
The project seeks to “accelerate the
exploration and development of renewable energy sources, increase utilization
of such and promote their efficient and cost-effective commercial application,”
SBMA chairman Roberto Garcia said.
The alternative energy project was
formally committed during President Benigno Aquino’s state visit to China in
September 2011. HydroChina operates projects involving hydropower and water
conservation, solar and electric power, and ports, highways and buildings.
By Ditas Lopez
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