RAZON-LED Prime Infrastructure Capital Corp. (Prime Infra), through Ahunan Power Inc., has mapped out a P80-million Integrated Watershed Management Plan (IWMP) which will operationalize the conservation, protection, and water management of the Pakil River Wa-tershed in Laguna.
The company said in a statement on Wednesday that the move was crucial after an as-sessment found that two sub-watersheds under the Pakil River are highly susceptible to rain-induced landslides, soil erosion, and flooding.
Ahunan Power said to address these vulnerabilities, the IWMP will incorporate a range of strategies, including reforestation, agroforestry development, nursery establishment and operation, establishment of an arboretum, and watershed protection, among others.
The company submitted the IWMP to Nilo Tamoria, Department of Environment and Natu-ral Resources, Calabarzon regional executive director. The plan will also be implemented in collaboration with the Laguna Lake Development Authority and the local government units of Pakil and Paete in Laguna.
Ahunan Power added that a multi-platform, multi-stakeholder Information, education, and communication campaign will also be rolled out to raise awareness, build environmental values, and promote stewardship of natural resources, particularly forests, water bodies, and biodiversity within the watershed.
The company is currently developing the 1,400 megawatt Pakil Pumped Storage Hydroelec-tric Power Project in Laguna that is expected to start operations by 2030 and provide elec-tricity to around 2.3 million households. The project has secured both an Energy Project of National Significance certification by the Department of Energy and a Green Lane endorse-ment by the Department of Trade and Industry and Board of Investments.
The project is also expected to help displace approximately 3.1 million tons of carbon emissions annually.
Prime Infra said it is focused on the development of assets that support the most urgent sustainability priorities, including energy, access to clean water, and waste management.
