THE National Power Corp. (Napocor) has launched its “Energy Carbon Sequestration Initiative,” which encourages entities to help improve the nine watersheds it manages through reforestation activities.
In a briefing on Monday, Napocor Manager for Watershed Management Emmanuel A. Umali said the program promotes reforestation efforts across the watersheds, and can help firms with their carbon offsetting targets.
Areas covered under the carbon sequestration initiative are: the Upper Agno River watershed in Benguet and Ifugao; San Roque watershed in Pangasinan; Angat watershed in Nueva Ecija, Aurora, Bulacan and Rizal provinces; Caliraya Lumot watershed in Laguna; Makiling Banahaw watershed in Batangas, Laguna and Quezon provinces; Buhi-Barit watershed in Camarines Sur; Tiwi watershed in Camarines Sur and Albay; Agus River watershed in Lanao del Sur and Lanao del Norte; and Pulangi watershed in Bukidnon.
“We have about 56,000 hectares to be allocated to our partners,” Mr. Umali said.
He also encouraged members of the energy sector to join the new program.
At present, Napocor’s protection and reforestation projects are supported by the universal charge-environmental fund which stands at P0.0025 per kilowatt-hour. The charge is collected from electricity users every month.
“If we just rely on the funds coming from the universal charge, it will take us about maybe a thousand years before we can cover the entire 56,000 hectares,” Mr. Umali said.
Interested participants who wish to join the carbon sequestration initiative must be able to spend around P62,660 per hectare over the next three years, according to a sample costing provided by the government entity. More than half of the cost will go to maintenance and protection activities of the tree seedlings.
In July, the Department of Energy encouraged independent power producers to join Napocor’s carbon sequestration program through an advisory. — Angelica Y. Yang
