THE Angat Dam and Dykes Strengthening Project of the Angat Hydropower Corp. (AHC) is expected to begin next month.
This, after a memorandum of agreement (MOA) for the full implementation of the Free and Prior Informed Consultation (FPIC) was signed among AHC, the National Commission of Indigeneous Peoples (NCIP), the National Power Corp. (Napocor), the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. (PSALM), and the Dumagat tribe on August 23.
The MOA includes the relocation of 15 Dumagat families and the provision of their houses while livelihood programs will be provided by AHC, PSALM, and Napocor to the Dumagat community.
Napocor President Ma. Gladys Cruz-Sta. Rita said it was the NCIP that organized and hosted the MOA signing for the FPIC, a process required before the start of the project construction scheduled this September by AHC.
AHC is a local corporation co-owned by San Miguel Corp. (SMC) subsidiary SMC Global Power Holdings Corp. and Korea Water Resources Corp.
AHC said it already got the project environmental compliance certificate from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in June and completed all the pre-construction works in July.
The other packages of the Angat Dam and Dykes Strengthening Project involve a facility upgrade and flood-control protection works, which will be implemented by the provincial government of Bulacan.