Bohol Governor Erico Aumentado expressed his intention of developing hydropower project on the Inabanga’s Wahig-Pamacsalan river, specifically at the Cantakoy Falls. The governor would convene the Wahig-Pamacsalan River Development Council for the purpose. The governor along with the National Transmission Corporation, Department of Energy (DOE) and the local department of environment inspected the Bohol watersheds in February 2009.
Bohol environment authorities have urged communities within the watershed area to initiate watershed protection by engaging in reforesting idle lands and by putting up sustainable water practices.
Aumentado said that the watershed has spurred the last 27% of the rice sufficiency which Bohol attained after developing the Bohol Irrigation Projects I and II, all using the Wahig watershed.
Already existing hydro-power plants are Tontonan in Loboc and Ewon in Sevilla, both capable of producing a combined output of 7.5 to 8 megawatt (MW).
As per the data from the Provincial planning Office Bohol needed 100 MW to 150 MW in the next few years to sustainably operate its eco-cultural tourism and agro-industries.
The government intends to hike the country’s energy sufficiency to 60% by 2010.
The facility will generate clean energy for the Mindanao Grid, and help reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 80,000 tons of carbon dioxide per year.
As per the DOE renewable energy will satisfy 40% of the country’s primary energy requirements over a ten-year period beginning in 2003.