Singapore-based Vena Energy assured the public it continues to maintain an open dialogue with stakeholders in the wake of issues hurled against its Rizal wind farm project.
Vena Energy said in a statement it is willing to work with concerned parties to achieve the common good, and the wind project is being mindful of its environmental impact.
“Vena Energy is a committed partner to upholding climate action and strongly adheres to environmental laws. It ensures the protection and preservation of biodiversity, maintains ecosystem services, and sustainably manages natural resources, which are prerogatives of sustainable development,” the company said.
Vena Energy said it ensures that in every project, it adheres to all government regulations and mandatory testing and compliance.
The project secured permits over the four years it has been developing the project such as the environmental compliance certificate (ECC) from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources- Environmental Management Bureau R4A, following a comprehensive environmental impact assessment (EIA) study, the company said.
Vena Energy said it also received a certificate of registration from the Board of Investments; free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) to conduct studies issued by the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP); clearances to conduct studies from the Protected Area Management Boards of Upper Marikina River Basin Protected Landscape, Kaliwa River Forest Reserve; and resolutions of support from the host barangays and the Tanay municipality.
It said the project also secured the FPIC of the Dumagat/Remontado IPs/ICCs of Antipolo and Tanay to implement and operate the project in both ancestral domains (ADs).
The FPIC was the result of an extensive process of consultations with the IP communities, elders and chieftains of both ADs, resulting in memoranda of agreement (MOAs) signed with them and the issuance of a certification precondition (CP) by the NCIP.
It said the consultations and dialogues are ongoing among the host barangays and communities in Tanay and Antipolo, attended by various stakeholders including representatives from DENR and the local government units of Antipolo and Tanay.
“In these consultations, the company has advised DENR and various stakeholders that it is not building in the karst area of Barangay Cuyambay, Tanay, Rizal,” Vena Energy said.
Vena Energy also said its projects ensures the welfare of the communities it serves through prioritization of local hiring during all phases of project development up to operation, financial benefits from the payment of various local taxes such as real property taxes, local business taxes ER1-94 (a fund given to host beneficiaries, in coordination with the Department of Energy, for electrification, disaster and risk management, livelihood projects of the community); government share and royalty tax; tourism; farm to market roads and the conduct and implement long-term CSR projects identified through a needs assessment with host communities.
These include Zero Hunger, scholarship programs with special focus on female students under STEM, hospitalization support, Pawikan conservation to name a few.
Vena Energy, one of Asia-Pacific’s leading renewable energy companies, has built a strong regional presence and has 900 employees across 79 corporate and site offices.
It owns, develops, constructs, operates, manages and commercializes renewable energy projects across the Asia Pacific.
The company has been in the Philippines for more than a decade. It is operating five solar plants in the country and the 54-MW Pililla wind farm which has been featured in various local, national, and international campaigns as one of the top tourism sites in Rizal.