By JUNE S. BLANCO

THE Bohol Provincial Development Council (PDC) has deferred action on the proposal to conduct a feasibility study on the Bohol Northeast Basin Multi Purpose Dam, another mega project of Rep. Erico Aumentado (2 nd Distict, Bohol) that is a component of the Bohol Irrigation Project Stage 3. Chaired by Gov. Edgardo Chatto, the PDC wanted more study on the project. Chatto also wanted to visit the proposed dam site first. Aumentado who has been to the site, bringing prospective investors for the dam proposed not only for irrigation but for energy as well, readily agreed to act as guide for Chatto. Engr. Modesto Membreve, director of the Bohol-based National Irrigation Administration Region 7 (NIA 7) office had presented the project to the council. The dam, to be located in Danao town, aims to provide irrigation water for rice farmers in Danao, San Miguel, Trinidad, Dagohoy, Bien Unido and Ubay or a service area of about 19, 017 hectares, as well as a cheaper and renewable source of energy to augment the current local electric power generation.

Its main source of water will be the Wahig River. This early, Membreve estimates its storage capacity at 78.5 million cubic meters, to generate around 10 megawatts of hydroelectric power – bigger than the combined generating capacities of the existing mini hydroelectric plants in Brgy. Tontonan, Loboc town, Hanopol in Balilihan town and Brgy. Ewon in Sevilla town. At the current going rate, the project needs around US$5 million for its feasibility study (FS) and detailed engineering design (DED), and some US$177 million for the project implementation. Under Aumentado’s proposal, however, the provincial government need not spend a centavo for the study and DED. He intends to tap official development assistance from the Republic of Korea instead. To note, during his watch as governor, the solon succeeded in securing a grant from the Korean International Cooperation Agency (Koica) to study the upgrading of the Malinao Dam. Conducted by Korea Water Resources Corp. (K-Water), the study showed that raising the existing dam height even by only two meters will already double the storage capacity of the reservoir. The solon expressed confidence that he can also secure a grant for the BHIP 3 FS and DED with the help of his friend, the former Korean Ambassador to the Philippines, Joong-Kyung Choi, an adopted son of Bohol who is now Korea’s minister of knowledge economy.