Pan Pacific Renewable Power Philippines Corp., a company engaged in building energy sources, intends to build two large hydropower plants – Gened 1 and 2 – which threaten to submerge communities in Kabugao, Apayao. Communities reported irregularities in the consent process and collusion among authorities and proponents, which allegedly led to the improper release of the permits for the two mega-dams.

The National Commission on Indigenous Peoples continued the consent process for the larger Gened-2 dam project despite appeals from the communities to postpone any Free, Prior and Informed Consent activities.

NCIP Chairman Allen Capuyan is the executive director of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict, while NCIP Regional Director Marlon Bosantog is the former spokesperson. NTF-ELCAC has been notorious for red-tagging activists

The DENR has pushed cement plants to burn plastic municipal wastes as alternative fuel to help address the country’s solid waste problem. But critics are raising health concerns. They’re also urging the government to focus on requiring manufacturers to reduce plastic production instead.