Governor Atty. Jose V. Gambito recently held a dialogue with FDC Utilities Inc., a subsidiary of Filinvest Development Corporation, together with key officials from the Department of Trade and Industry – Board of Investments (DTI-BOI) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), to discuss the proposed 33.4-Megawatt Pampang Hydroelectric Power Project of FDC Renewables Corporation, eyed for construction in Barangay Sta. Rosa, Pangasinan, and Barangay Malico in the municipality of Sta. Fe, Nueva Vizcaya.

During the meeting held on June 4, 2025, FDC highlighted the project’s design — a clean and sustainable run-of-river hydro scheme traversing Santa Fe, Nueva Vizcaya and San Nicolas, Pangasinan and presented the potential benefits of the project to the Provincial Local Government Unit (PLGU) of Nueva Vizcaya, also represented by Engr. Edgardo S. Sabadao, PPDO and Ms. Juditte Asuncion, ProCEDe Officer. Key issues and concerns were raised during the dialogue including the potential adverse impact on Indigenous Cultural Communities (ICCs) whose ancestral domain titles cover the proposed project area. If pushed through, the hydroelectric project will affect three ancestral domains including that of the Kalanguya-Kalahan ancestral domain (AD) , Iwak ADS , and Ibaloi AD, which the governor do not want to left out of dialogue and be deprived of the benefits guaranteed to them by law, an issue that may raise serious social and legal implications.

Governor Gambito welcomed the proposal recognizing its value of strategic investments to local growth. While receptive to the proposal, he requested comprehensive environmental impact documents and committed to further consultations with officials, stakeholders, and the Sangguniang Panlalawigan before issuing any action or endorsement.

“Pag-aaralan nating mabuti ang proposed project at titiyakin natin na walang makokompromisong karapatan at interes, lalo na sa mga katutubong pamayanang maaapektuhan ng proyekto, at sa kabuuan ng ating lalawigan,” Governor Gambito said.

Currently, the project is on its pre-development stage, outlining their proposed schedule and highlighted its supposed contribution to renewable energy development. /gpp

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