Last month, Philippines officials received the symbolic keys to a donated 200kW hydro-electric project that, in addition to producing energy, will start generating money to halt deterioration of the fabled ancient rice terraces in the Philippines.
The rice terraces were created on mountainsides largely by hand by indigenous people of the northern Ifugao province at least two millennia ago. Fed by tropical forest springs above, they are popularly referred to as "the stairways to Heaven," and the "Eighth Wonder of the World."
Eighty generations later, the terraces' condition prompted UNESCO in 2001 to include them on its list of World Heritage Sites in Danger.
The $1M mini-hydro facility, donated by the e8 and located on the Ambangal river downstream of terraces, will create annually about 1450MWh of much-needed new energy for the area, meeting 18% of the province's electricity needs, and generating some US $70,000 in annual revenue for the new Rice Terrace Conservation Fund, fully dedicated to urgently needed shoring up of the terraces and related activities.
Developed over four years in collaboration with the Philippines Department of Energy and the Provincial Government of Ifugao, the facility was built and donated by Japan's Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) on behalf of the e8, an international non-profit organisation of 10 leading power utilities from G8 countries.
"When this initiative began in 2006, the partners and UNESCO foresaw an opportunity not only to help preserve these historic terraces but to showcase an interesting model of sustainable rural energy development and regional revitalisation, the chance to demonstrate the potential of mini-hydro power generation throughout the Philippines and the region,” said Johane Meagher, e8 Executive Director.
The rice terraces are located about 1500m asl and cover more than 10,000km2 of mountainside, fed by an ancient irrigation system from the rainforests above.
Terrace restoration and watershed enhancement efforts, and community irrigation systems, are top priorities for the Rice Terrace Conservation Fund, to be managed by the Cultural Heritage Office of the Ifugao Provincial Government. Applications will also be received related to private enterprise support, cultural enhancement and organic agriculture input production.
A study in 2004 estimated that halting the terraces deterioration would require $400,000 per year.
"In other words, we are starting a fund that needs to grow to $400,000 per year simply to stop further deterioration of the Ifugao Rice Terraces. A 10-year project to go beyond and improve the situation requires an estimated US$11.8 million. So, in short, this is an important first step with a long way to go and we sincerely hope this contribution by TEPCO and the e8 will inspire and bring other donors to this important cause," said TEPCO's Yoshihiro Hatano, General Manager, International Exchange & Cooperation and Ifugao project supervisor:
The first priority is to rehabilitate and restore damaged rice terraces and their irrigation system. The second is to initiate the restoration of terraces abandoned years ago.
The project's development included extensive environmental and social impact assessments. The 10-month construction phase involved over 180 daily workers, in addition to competent supervisory engineers and foremen.
In line with UNESCO's recommendations to the governments of the Ifugao Province and the Philippines, the project will not only help finance local terrace conservation, it will also enhance local capacity in -and provide a pilot model for- renewable energy-based rural development.
The e8 will help monitor the Ifugao Ambangal project for two years, overseeing the power plant operations and maintenance activities in close collaboration with the local partners.
