Cordillera energy firm supports DOE’s food-water-energy nexus approach

SNAP’s Magat Hydro Electric Power Plant (PNA Photo)

BAGUIO CITY, August 9 – Communities hosting the SN Aboitiz Power (SNAP) plants in the Cordillera can expect better days as the company’s chief executive commits  to support the Department of Energy’s food-water-energy link.

Rhoda Santos, Corporate Communications manager, said the company is eyeing model farms in Binga in Itogon, Benguet; Alfonso Lista in Ifugao and Ramon in Isabela province.

Itogon hosts the 140-megawatt Binga Hydro Electric Power Plant while Ifugao and Isabela are hosts to the 360-megawatt Magat Hydro Electric Power Plant.

Santos relayed that in a conference on Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) towards energy security, sustainability and resilience in Bohol this week attended by SNAP president and chief executive officer (CEO) Joseph S. Yu affirmed the company’s support of the Department of Energy’s push to explore more concrete measures for sustainability, chief of which is the food-water-energy nexus, which focuses on interdependence between the three.

“It aims to enhance cross-sector collaboration and policy coherence with the goal of promoting efficient use of resources, sustainability, and win-win solutions.”

In Yu’s message, he highlighted the benefits of the connection of the natural resources with food and energy: synergy in resource utilization and conservation efforts; cost effectiveness through partnerships; its potential for scalability; and economic opportunities through job creation and development of alternative livelihoods.

“Hydros like SNAP are in a good, if not the best, position to apply this approach,” Yu said.

Through watershed and resource management and development partnerships, he underscored an opportunity “to create shared value that benefits communities, partners, businesses and the environment.”

SNAP officials joined other leaders from the private and public sectors at the ACD conference to discuss strategies and approaches in managing energy and sustainability issues in the region.

“SNAP is dedicated to being an instrument of positive change.

The food-water-energy nexus validates our purpose as we move towards greater use of sustainable energy sources and responsible development,” Yu added. (PNA)