NORZAGARAY, Bulacan, Philippines — The government is set to open bids for the 254-megawatt Angat River Hydroelectric Power Plant (Arhepp) on April 28.
Angat Dam manager Rodolfo German said that the winning bidder will assume the management and operation of the 42-year old hydropower plant
“The bid will be opened on April 28 and the winning bidder wil be awarded the management and operation of the 246-megwatt hydro power plant,” he said.
Bidders include SN Aboitiz, First Gen of the Lopez Group of companies, Ayala Group’s Manila Water Corp. Inc. and DM Consunji Inc. (DMCI).
US-based companies like AERS and Michigan Power also submitted their bids along with three Korean companies and TransAsia Corp.
According to German, non-dam components like the spillway, the 63,000 hectare watershed, low level outlet and the dam itself is not included in the bidding.
However, since Napocor is the one managing the Angat Dam, the winning bidder will then enter into an agreement with the government for operations and maintenance of the dam components.
This way, German said, water allocation to Metro Manila and Central Luzon farmers will not be affected.
However, farmers and environmentalists in Bulacan especially the Sagip Sierra Madre Environmental Society (SSMES) has expressed opposition and apprehension on the sale of the Arhepp.
Martin Francisco of the SSMES said “tinututulan ng aming grupong Sagip Sierra Madre Environmental Society, Inc. (SSMESI) ang plano ng ating pamahalaang isapribado ito dahilan sa lalo itong magiging pahirap sa mamamayan lalo na sa mga kapatid nating katutubo at mga mahihirap na umaasa sa serbisyo ng pamahalaan.”
He added that issue on water is a national concern as whoever controls water distribution has great influence on the lives of millions of peoples, especially in Metro Manila, and the province of Rizal and Cavite where some 14-million depend on water supplied from the Angat Dam.