| Abstract |
Since 1979, Makiling-Banahaw (Mak-Ban) Geothermal Field has safely and reliably supplied the Philippines grid with clean and renewable energy. With an installed capacity of 403 MW, Mak-Ban has generated a total of 72,290 GWh of electricity, displacing 134 MMBOE. Mak-Ban is operated by Philippine Geothermal Production Company, Inc., a joint venture between Allfirst Equity Holdings, Inc. and Chevron Geothermal Philippines Holdings, LLC. Located 70 kilometers south of Manila, Mak-Ban is hosted by a rapidly industrializing area. The development covers parts of two provinces and three municipalities with a combined population of 260,000 (2010 estimate), and growing at 3% every year, double the national average population growth rate (National Statistics Office, 2010). Contiguous to Mak-Ban are agro-industrial facilities, residential communities, and a protected forest reservation. The diverse social landscape where Mak-Ban is situated, exacerbated by a large population and pace of urbanization in the area, poses unique challenges to maintaining safe and stable operations, such as encroachment and informal settlements, pilferage and vandalism, and right-of-way issues, among others. Mak-Ban’s co-location in a rapidly growing urban corridor requires implementation of a thorough and systematic approach to identifying safety, environmental, and health risks to prevent disruption of operations for major capital projects and other routine activities. A proactive social impact assessment supported by strategic stakeholder engagement has enabled seamless operations in Mak-Ban for major capital projects and other routine activities. This paper will provide a thorough discussion of Philippine Geothermal’s social impact assessment program, with an emphasis on a Community Impact Review (CIR) tool that integrates community issues with operations and provides valuable information to facilitate successful project planning, design, and management. The CIR which is conducted by all functional groups involved in a specific project promotes a shared understanding and coordinated resolution of community issues that may potentially interrupt operations and expose host communities to risks related to geothermal operations. CIR evaluates socio-political issues, including security, religious, cultural, economic, and other local norms that should be considered in the overall implementation of any project. This paper will demonstrate the value of social impact assessment by presenting a case study on how the application of the CIR facilitated Mak-Ban’s drilling and surface facilities projects. |