PHINMA – CAGAYAN DE ORO COLLEGE

Max Suniel St., Carmen, Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental 9000

“ The Environmental Impact of Hydropower Plant in the Philippines”

By:

Cuizon, Emmanuel M.

Tan, Kyle Brinley

Baseleres, Basil Benjamin B.

Gacang, Arnold L.

Bunal, Marco O.

A THESIS PROJECT SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF COLLEGE OF

ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE, PHINMA CAGAYAN DE ORO COLLEGE AS

PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENT FOR ELECTRICAL

ENGINEERING RESEARCH PROJECT

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING

(Group II)

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 DECLARATION

We, Group 2, the undersigned solemnly declare that the project report entitled “The
Environmental Impact of Hydropower plant in the Philippines“ is based on our own work carried
out during the course of our study submitted to Cagayan de Oro College -Phinma in partial
fulfillments of requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering
under the supervision of Engr. Sheila C. Cabaraban, PEE.

We assert the statements made and conclusions drawn are an outcome of our research work. We
further certify that

I. The work contained in the report is original; interpretations drawn are based on
material collected by us.

II. The work has not been submitted for any other degree/diploma/certificate in this
institution or any other institution in the country or abroad.

III. We have followed the guidelines provided by the school in writing the report.

IV. Whenever we have used materials (data, theoretical analysis, and text) from other
sources, we have given due credit to them in the text of the report and giving their
details in the references.

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 Abstract

Hydropower is using water to power machinery or make electricity. Hydro power is a

renewable energy, when flowing water is capture and spinning the turbine this kinetic energy is

transformed into mechanical energy, the generator will transform mechanical energy into

electrical energy. Hydro power plant generates power from a clean energy but it has impact to

the environment. This research aims to determine these impact but the data used in this studies

are base on secondary resources. Hydroelectric facilities have huge impact by changing the used

of land, which affects the surrounding area. It also causes floods and inundation. The common

impact of hydro plant is destruction of habitat but most hydro plant develops irrigation for

agricultural development.

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 Acknowledgement

We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to those individuals who extend their

help in times of our needs especially to our family who give full support and motivation.

Without them this could be impossible to accomplish. To the Maca-arab and Daguplo family,

despite of this present outbreak due to Covid19 that affect our learning modality, we are very

thankful for providing us the very essential need to finish this research which is internet

connection in order for us to easily access all the data’s that we need to in our research.

To Engr. Sheila Cabaraban, we are grateful for the ideas and knowledge, guidance, support and

believing to our capabilities. Without your presence, this research cannot be accomplished

accurately. We also send regards and thank you to all CEA faculty members that giving their

best just to make sure that we are doing well especially to our former program head Engr.

Carmichael Danting for always supporting and giving this kind of opportunity. We also

acknowledge the help of our classmate and friends who’s always been there to response on our

concerns. The sharing of ideas and exchanging knowledge gives us a way on how to perform this

research. Supporting each other, sharing tools for gathering information is a big factor why we

accomplish this research. Without everyone’s cooperation we cannot reach this far.

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page.......................................................................................................................................i

Declaration....................................................................................................................................ii

Abstract........................................................................................................................................iii

Acknowledgement........................................................................................................................iv

Table of Contents..........................................................................................................................v

I. Introduction........................................................................................................................1
1.1 Background of Study...................................................................................................2
1.2 Objectives.....................................................................................................................2
1.3 Significant of the Study...............................................................................................3
1.4 Scope and Limitation..................................................................................................3
1.5 Definition of Terms.....................................................................................................4

II. Review of Related Literature............................................................................................6

III. Materials and Method.....................................................................................................11

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 CHAPTER1

INTRODUCTION

The Philippines is abundant when it comes to water. Many bodies of water are seen all

over the archipelago. In this technological era, people have been finding ways to ease the lives of

many. They come up with creations highlighting valuable energy sources from the bounty of

waters through relevant research and developments, including hydropower plants. Hydropower is

derived from the motion of water as kinetic energy. Hydroelectricity also uses hydropower but is

converted into producing electricity. Hydropower plants emerged as one of the most significant

innovations up until this generation. But indisputably, hydropower plants come with inevitable

issues and concerns affecting the environment. It provides a massive impact not only on the

people but also on the place where this hydropower plant lies and rested.

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 Background of Study

The Philippines target by 2030 is to achieve 35% Renewable Energy as part of the

country's power generation. Because of the countries continuing growth population the power

demand also increases. Renewable energy can be a good aid to overcome power shortage

especially hydro power. This will lead to construction of new Renewable Energy power plants.

Philippines is an archipelagic country which is rich in Renewable Energy resources including

Hydro power. Construction of Hydro power plant typically uses dam to store river water in

reservoir and the water release from reservoir flow through the turbine spinning it which

activates the generator to produce electricity. Hydro power plant is categorize base on their

capacities; Large hydro power as facilities have capacity of more than 10MW, Small hydro

power as facilities have capacity of 10MW or less, and Micro hydro power facilities have 1 up to

100KW capacity(DOE, 2018). Constructions of this hydro power plant have an impact to the

environment and social issues. It may be small or huge but it brings significant changes and

danger to the environment and to other species.

Objectives

The objective of this research aims to determine the effects of existing hydropower plant

in the Philippines. We also want to determine if there is a difference in approach in determining

environmental impact of hydro plant depending on its type (micro- large). Does this impact

significantly affect the environment and species or not. With the use linear regression we want to

know the relationship of the power plants generating capacity to its environmental impact.

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 Significant of the study

This research can help individual, group, government, and other parties to be aware about

environmental impacts of Hydropower plant. If the government, entrepreneur or people in the

Village are planning to construct Hydropower plant, this effects should be consider in planning

and improving design in order to avoid or limit this environmental impact. The findings can help

future researchers as their reference for study relating to Hydro Power especially that we are

planning to get 35% of the power generation coming from renewable energy since Philippines’s

dominant Renewable energy is hydro.

Scope and limitation

This study focuses on the environmental impact of Hydropower plant here in the

Philippines excluding Micro hydro power plant. This is a qualitative research using secondary

data and information collected from different previous studies related to our topic. The power

plants mentioned in data gathering are generating a capacity of more than 100KW below this

capacity is excluded. There will be no onsite visiting on gathering of data. This research will be

conducted on November to March 2024.

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 Definition of Terms

Disruptive - causing or tending to cause disruption

Hydropower plants - is a process that involves forms of energy transformation in which kinetic

energy of falling or fast-running water is converted to electrical or mechanical energy to be

utilized for human benefits.

Implication-is something that is suggested, or happens, indirectly.

Impact –relating to the environmental effects or impact of hydroelectric power plant.

Impoundment-a body of water confined within an enclosure, as a reservoir.

Large hydropower-has a capacity more than 10MW.

Micro hydro power (MHP) plant- is a type of hydroelectric power scheme that produces up to

100 KW of electricity using a flowing steam or a water flow.

Mini-hydropower – has a capacity of 101kW to 10MW.

Morphological- relating to the form or structure of environment.

Renewable Energy- energy generated from natural processes that are continuously replenished.

This includes sunlight, geothermal heat, wind, tides, water, and various forms of biomass. This

energy cannot be exhausted and is constantly renewed.

Reservoir-a large natural or artificial lake used as a source of water supply.

Run-of-River hydroelectric system-is a design scheme for power generation that is least

disruptive to the environment.

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Small hydro power plant- is classified in to mini and micro hydro plant which has up to10MW

Turbine - is a rotary mechanical device that extracts energy from a fluid flow and converts it into

useful work.

Weir – is a small dam built across a river to control upstream water level.

Fauna and Flora-Flora is a collective term for a group of plant life found in a particular region

while fauna represents the animal life indigenous to that region.

Downstream - direction of the water in the river flow.

Fluctuation –an irregular rise and fall of water level/flow.

Riverbed- the channel bottom of a stream or river, the physical confine of the normal water flow.

Fish Migration- this involves the movement of fishes on a larger scale and duration, fish usually

migrate to feed or to reproduce.

EIA-Environmental Impact Assessment, a system used in determining potential impact of

projects.

Inundation- over flowing of water.

Tailrace- the channel that carries the water away from hydroelectric plant.

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 CHAPTER 2

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

The Philippines is now shifting to Renewable Energy as a source to generate power

including hydropower. According to Breeze (2018), hydropower plant generates electricity using

natural resources, but like other power plant it has an environmental impact. Hydropower is

known to be a clean energy but associated environmental impact and implication (Ismail, 2017).

Large hydropower plant will be disruptive but also recognize that it needs not necessarily

destructive (Breeze, 2018). According to Smith (2019), hydroelectric facilities have huge impact

by changing the used of land, which affects the surrounding area. Impoundment facilities

requires huge flooding area and floods destroys forests, habitats, and agricultural land, even the

important areas. Reservoirs may cover people’s homes, important natural areas, and

archaeological sites (Jensen, 2018).

Fish migrations, river hydrology, and sediment transfers are all impacted by these dams

and dam clusters, according to evidence. Because many communities depend on the river and its

resources for their food and livelihood, changes to the river have impacted, and will continue to

negatively impact, food and economic security (Soukhapon, A., Baird, I., and Hogan, Z., 2021).

Hydropower plant is designed to fit the site-specific characteristics of a given geographical site

and the surrounding society and environment, the magnitude of environmental and impact as

well as the extent of their positive and negative effects is highly site dependent. The size of HPP

alone is not a relevant criterion to predict environmental performance, many impacts are related

to the impoundment and existence of a reservoir, and therefore do not apply to all HPP types

(Kumar, A., T. Schei, A. Ahenkorah et al., 2011). All hydroelectric structures affect a river’s

ecology through the building of dams, dikes and weirs. The rivers physical, chemical, and

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biological characteristics depend largely on the type of HPP. The adverse impacts on the

riverbed morphology, on water quality and on fauna and flora is highly site-specific (Kumar, A.,

T. Schei, A. Ahenkorah et al., 2011).

Typical impacts and possible mitigation measures

These are the issues identified by EIA after a decade of research focusing on Hydro Power and

Environment.

Hydrological regimes

Hydro power project with reservoir may modify river’s flow regime and may also alter

waters temperature over short stretches downstream. Physical and biological changes are related

to such variation of water level, timing of flow, and temperature. A frequent fluctuation in water

level downstream from a hydropower reservoir and a tailrace area might create problems for both

mammals and birds and a sudden release of water may represent public security issues (Kumar,

A., T. Schei, A. Ahenkorah, R. et al., 2011). Hydrological impact includes change in river

morphology and drainage pattern as well as the potential effects of flooding in the project area

and in the broader area of influence (HYDROPOWER ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

ASSESSMENT MANUAL, Page 45).

Reservoir creation

Creation of a reservoir causes profound changes in fish habitats. Fluctuations in water

levels often lead to erosion of the reservoir shoreline and along the downstream riverbanks.

Construction of dams also causes damage to environment. A dam that creates reservoir may

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obstruct fish migration and changed the water characteristics and properties (Eia, 2020).

Hydropower dams can destroy habitats of aquatic life as well as inhibit the migration of fish (M.

Faizal, L. J. Fong, J. Chiam1 and A. Amirah, 2017)

Water quality

Water quality issues related to reservoirs depend on several factors: climate, reservoir

morphology and depth, water retention time in the reservoir, water quality of tributaries, quantity

and composition of the inundated soil and vegetation, and rapidity of impounding, which affects

the quantity of biomass available over time. Also, the operation of the HPP and thus the reservoir

can significantly affect water quality, both negatively and positively.

Sedimentation

The sediment-carrying capacity of a river depends on its hydrologic characteristics depth,

the nature of the sediments in the riverbed and the material available in the catchment. When

dams reduce current velocity and the slope of the water body this will decrease in sediment-

carrying capacity, flow reduction contributes to lower sediment transport capacity and increased

sediment deposition, which could lead to the raising of riverbed and an increase in flood risk

(Kumar, A., T. Schei, A. Ahenkorah, R. et al., 2011). Another trans-boundary effect of dams is

reduction in the river’s suspended sediment load and reduction of sediment concentration will

likely have significant implication for the ecosystem downstream (Claudia Kuenzer, C.,

Campbell, I, et al., 2012). Construction of dam or weirs may lead to sediment build up and

hindrance to natural sediment movement along river channel (Hydropower Environmental

Impact Assessment, page 45).

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Biological diversity

The most serious causes of ecological effects from hydropower development on wildlife

are Permanent loss of habitat and special biotopes through inundation; Loss of flooding;

Fluctuating water levels (and habitat change); Introduction and dispersal of exotic species; and

Obstacle to fish migration. Among the organism fish are the most affected by HPP (Kumar, A.,

T. Schei, A. Ahenkorah, R. et al., 2011).

Barriers for fish migration and navigation

A dam creates obstacle for movement of migratory fish species and for river navigation

reducing the access to spawning grounds, this leads decrease in migratory fish population and

fragmentation of non-migratory fish population. Dams built on water fall is exceptional because

the water fall its self-constitute barrier already (Kumar, A., T. Schei, A. Ahenkorah, R. et al.,

2011).

There is no difference in environmental impact depending on HPP size (Steinmetz and

Sundqvist, 2014). There are indicator approaches to guide preliminary environmental impact

assessment identified by Journal of Environmental Management.

Category: The Importance of understanding hydropower impacts. This is taken from table 1 of

Journal of Environmental Management 265 (2020) 110489

Water Quality (WQ): Water quality characteristics can be directly or indirectly affected by

hydropower development and operation. Changes in water quality can adversely affect the health

of humans and wildlife.

Indicators - Algae/primary productivity (WQ), Buffering capacity, Dissolved gasses, Dissolved

oxygen, Ecosystem function, Gas emissions, Key elements, Macromolecular pollutants,

Nutrients and organic material, Solid transport, turbidity, and conductivity, Water temperature.

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Geomorphology (GM): Hydropower development can disrupt a river system’s geomorphologic

equilibrium through altered sediment and flow regimes, which influence the availability and

quality of habitat for plants and animals within the system

Indicators - Catchment and basin attributes, Channel, Floodplain valley, Sediment and substrate.

Connectivity and Fragmentation (CF): Dams and reservoirs disrupt aquatic, riparian, and

terrestrial connectivity, all of which can directly affect the habitat quantity and quality for

organisms in an ecosystem.

Indicators - Basin area, Dendritic network and rivers cape, Fish passage, Spillage & turbine

entrainment.

Water Quantity (HD): Hydropower development can alter the hydrologic cycle by impounding

free-flowing water, increased evaporation, and altered groundwater recharge. Because dam

operations may serve many purposes, temporal changes to water quantity affect human and

wildlife populations through altered water availability

Indicators - Basin attributes (related to hydrology), Diversion, Downstream discharge,

Groundwater, Reservoir hydrology, and upstream inflows.

Land Cover (LC): Land cover influences many other environmental properties ranging from

river and floodplain sedimentation rates to fragmentation of habitats and wildlife populations.

Land cover changes can include increases in wetted surface from reservoir formation, and

fragmentation of the surrounding landscape by infrastructure (e.g., transmission lines, roads).

Indicators - Area impacted, project area, Floodplain or riparian vegetation, Land cover class,

protected land, and reservoir inundation.

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 CHAPTER 3

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Location

The Philippines is an archipelagic country consisting of 7107 islands and islets located in

Southeast Asia. The three major islands are Luzon (the largest one), Visayan island, and

Mindanao. Its total area is about 300,000 square kilometers, 298,000 square kilometers of land,

and 2000 square kilometers of water. The Philippines stretches about 1,850 kilometers from

Y’Ami islands in the north to Sibutu Island in the south and is about 1,000 kilometers at its

widest point, east to west. The Philippines consists of volcanic islands, including active

volcanoes, with mostly mountainous interiors surrounded by flat lowlands and alluvial plains of

varying widths. The elevation ranges from sea level to Mount Apo's highest point on Mindanao

Island, at 2,954 meters above sea level. The longest river is the Cagayan (Río Grande de

Cagayan) on Luzon, about 350 kilometers in length. The largest freshwater lake in the

Philippines is the Pasig River, about 25 kilometers in length. Major natural mineral resources

include coal, cobalt, copper, chromites, gold, gypsum, iron, natural gas, nickel, petroleum, salt,

silver, and sulfur. There are lesser deposits of bauxite, lead, mercury, molybdenum, and zinc.

Other essential resources are geothermal and hydroelectric power, fish, and timber. Because of

its climate, the Philippines is prone to natural disasters like typhoons that cause floods and

landslides. It also suffers from human activities that cause environmental degradation, including

loss of agricultural lands, deforestation, pollution, solid waste production, and damage to water

resources.

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Data and Information

The data and information gathered are secondary from previous research relating to our topic.

Compilation of information will help us determine an existing Hydropower plant's environmental

impacts in the Philippines.

Hydropower Plant–Hydropower plant listed in the table is currently in operation. These are the

awarded hydropower projects by DOE in the Philippines as of May 31, 2021. Cascading hydro

power plant is group into 1 and represented by a plant that has the largest generating capacity.

Power plants that have a generating capacity of less than 100kW are then excluded. These power

plants started its operation between 1977 and 2021.

Parameters used in assessing the impacts of Hydro Power plant

Geomorphology -Hydropower development can disrupt a river system’s geomorphologic

equilibrium through altered sediment and flow regimes, which influence the availability and

quality of habitat for plants and animals within the system

Floods- Just as reducing downstream water flow can cause a loss of habitat, creating reservoirs

to generate electricity in storage and pumped storage hydropower systems often cause upstream

flooding that destroys wildlife habitats, scenic areas, and prime farming land. In some instances,

this flooding can even force human populations to relocate.

Fish Mortality-Injury and mortality can occur through several means from hydroelectric

components. Free fall from passing over a spillway, abrasion, scrapes, and mechanical strikes

from turbine blades are well known causes of physical injury and mortality. Also occur from fish

being impinged against screens or trash racks that are intended to prevent debris, or in some

cases fish, from being drawn into water in takes.

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Distraction of Habitat-Construction of dams, powerhouse and transmission line causes

distraction of habitat. This includes relocation of residence near the area. Creation of new roads

for delivering materials for construction causes deforestation.

Changes in Water Quality– Reservoir can heat up resulting in abnormal temperature fluctuations

which affects sensitive species. This leads to an algal bloom and decrease oxygen level. Other

dam decrease water temperature by releasing cooled, oxygen deprived water from the reservoir

bottom.

Agricultural Development– Most hydro power uses dams for reservoir; this water is diverted

through a penstock. The discharge of water can be use for agricultural development providing

water supply to the farm.

Disturbance in Water Continuity– Change in water level may dry out river downstream. This

could have a great impact to the species under water and in land and to villagers relying on

watersheds.

Solid materials and Sedimentation- Rivers naturally transport sediments but when flows of water

changes and enter into a reservoir, most of this sediment traps along the bottom of the reservoir.

This sediments can cause water pollution making fish unable to see clearly destroy the protective

mucous covering the eye’s and scales of fish, making them more susceptible to infection and

disease.

Death- Failures of dams causes huge floods which may cause death. Villagers will be the one

affected by this accident. This destroys not only the power plant but properties and lives.

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Linear Regression is known as Ordinary Least Square, a method of analyzing relationship

between a two variables. With linear regression we can determine whether the generating

capacity of plant is negatively related or positively related to its environmental impact.

y= β0 + β1x+e

Where y is our dependent variable that varies with a set of independent variable which is x.

Regression can be used to predict, estimate, or modeling relationship of two variables. β0 and β1

are what we called regression coefficients, β0 is the intercept and β1 is the slope.

The correlation coefficient quantifies the strength of the linear relationship of two variables in

correlation analysis. Correlation coefficient value is between -1 to +1, a coefficient closer to 0

indicates weak linear relationship. Positive r indicates a positive relationship between to

variables as x variable increases the y variable also increases. Negative r also indicates a negative

relationship between two variables as x variable increases the y variable decreases.

R values between;

-0.3 and 0(0 and 0.3) – weak negative (positive) linear relationship

-0.3and -0.7 (0.3 and 0.7) –moderate negative (positive) linear relationship

-0.7 and -1 (0.7 and 1) – strong negative (positive) linear relationship

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Table 1: Environmental Impact of Small-Hydropower Plant

NAME OF GENERATED Fish Destruction Of Water Agricultural Disturbance

HYDROPOWER PLANT CAPACITY YEAR OPERATED In River Sedimentation Death Ref no.
Geomorphology Flood Mortality Habitat Quality Development
(CITY, PROVINCE) (MW) Continuity
Bulanao Hydroelectric 1,9
Power Plant 1.00 2016
(Tabuk, Kalinga)
Sal-angan Hydroelectric 3
Power Plant 1991
(Itogon, Benguet) 2.40
Irisan Hydroelectric 3,5
Power Plant 3.80 2011
(Tuba, Benguet)
Likud Hydroelectric 24
Power Plant 0.90 2015
(Asipulo & Kiangan, Ifugao)
Maris Main Canal 1 13,14
Hydroelectric Power Plant 2017
(Ramon, Isabela) 8.50
Catuiran Hydroelectric 25
Power Plant 8.00 2014
(Naujan, Oriental Mindoro)
Loboc Hydroelectric 18,19
Power Plant 1.20 2005 20
(Loboc, Bohol)
Sevilla Hydroelectric 18
Power Plant 2.50 --------
(Sevilla, Bohol)
Cabulig Hydroelectric 21
Power Plant 8.00 2012
(Claveria, Misamis Oriental)
Talomo Hydroelectric 3
Power Plant 1.95 2005
(Davao City, Davao del Sur)

TOTAL 1 4 0 5 1 7 1 0 0

Table 2: Linear Regression of Small-Hydropower Plant

Base on the regression line test result of Small hydropower plant, with a correlation coefficient

of -0.45 which means that the generating capacity of the small hydropower plant has a moderate

negative relationship. The environmental impact of small hydropower plant is not dependent to

its generating capacity.

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Table 2: Environmental Impact of Large Hydropower Plant

NAME OF GENERATED Fish Destruction Of Water Agricultural Disturbance

HYDROPOWER PLANT CAPACITY In River Sedimentation Death Ref no.
YEAR OPERATED Geomorphology Flood Mortality Habitat Quality Development
(CITY, PROVINCE) (MW) Continuity

Ambuklao Hydroelectric Power 2,4,10,11

Plant 104.55 2013
( Ambuklao, Benguet)

Binga Hydroelectric 2,4,12

Power Plant 140.00 1960
( Itogon, Benguet)

Sabangan Hydroelectric 5
Power Plant 14.00 2015
( Sabangan, Mt. Province)

Bakun AC Hydroelectric Power 3

Plant 2001
70.00
( Alilem, Ilocos Sur)

Magat Hydroelectric 4,15,16

Power Plant 360.00 1983
( Ramon, Isabela)

Pantabangan Hydroelectric Power 17,22,

Project 1977 23
120.80
( Pantabangan, Nueva Ecija)

ManoloFortich Hydroelectric 3,7,24

Power Plant 45.94 2018
( Santiago, Bukidnon)

Sibulan Hydroelectric 3,8

Power Plant 26.00 2010
( Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur)

TOTAL 5 2 0 4 1 6 0 3 0

Linear Regression of Large Hydropower Plant

Base on the regression line test result of Large Hydropower plant, with a correlation coefficient

of 0.92 which means that the generating capacity of the large hydropower plant has a strong

positive relationship. As the generating capacity of large hydropower plant increases, the

environmental impact also increases.

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 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Impacts of Small-hydropower plant

The common impacts of small hydro are agricultural development but 2 out of this 7

hydro plant is negative impact. These hydro plants are the Bulanao HPP and Catuiran HPP. It

was reported that irrigation water was deficient at the downstream portion of UCRIS (Upper

Chico River Irrigation System) because of the construction of new diversion intake upstream of

Bulanao HPP. In the case of Catuiran HPP, because of unusual flooding and inundation this

resulted to destroyed crops and livestock of the Indigenous people in towns of Naujan. A total of

5 small hydro plants cause destruction of habitat and 4 small hydro plants causes floods in the

area. Only the Catuiran power plant that causes changes in geomorphology and no

sedimentation, fish mortality and death reported.

Impacts of Large-hydropower plant

The same as small-hydro, large hydro plants also improves agricultural development for

indigenous people but we have 5 power plants that have impact on geomorphology compare to

small hydro that has 1 tally only and followed by destructions of habitat with 4 hydro power

plant. Large hydro also recorded 3 power plants with sedimentation effects and only 2 power

plants have issues in flooding. Both small and large hydro have no reports about death and fish

mortality, and 1 power plant with water quality issues.

It is clear that small and large hydro has almost the same impact except for geomorphology and

sedimentation. Geomorphology and destruction of habitat are mainly because of excavation and

deforestation. People in the villagers are relocated and bombing for excavation to rehabilitate the

power plant causes floods and landslide. The floods that have been recorded were because of

failure operation of power plant, river flow fluctuation downstream, and unexpected large

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volume of discharge from the gate.

Linear Regression test result

In performing the test we use generating capacity as our independent variable and impact

scale as our dependent variable.

Table 3: Relationship between Capacity and Impact Scale

We do not include the Agricultural development in impact scale since it is positive impact except

for Bulanao and Catuiran. The regression line shows a positive relationship between generating

capacity and impact. The distance between the line and the dot is the errors since the regression

line is estimation only. For correlation coefficient of 0.43 we can say that generating capacity of

power plant has a moderate positive linear relation to its environmental impact. This means that

regardless of how much power it can generate, small or large hydro will almost have the same

impact if not properly plan and design or there are failures in operation.

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 CONCLUSION

Hydro power energy is one of the most dominant renewable energy resources we have

here in the Philippines. Hydroelectric power plant helps minimize the production of

greenhouse gasses but it has also negative effects on the Environment. Although the hydropower

plant in the Philippines really help improve agricultural development as seen on the result. The

ones that benefit this development are not only the Indigenous of the community but also us the

people in the Philippines. We can produce more food supplies and livestock and decrease the

importation of supplies. This will lower the prices in the market. The Environmental impacts of

small and large hydro power plant are the following; hydro power plant common impact is the

destruction of habitat followed by changes in geomorphology, plant also causes floods not only

in downstream but also in upstream of the river. Construction of the dam causes build up

sedimentation upstream and water discontinuity. It also changes the water quality in the river.

Even though there is an issue about bombing and excavation, unusual floods that put the lives of

Indigenous people in to risks, no death were recorded.

Environmental Impact Assessment was not necessary for the project activity of run-of-river

hydropower plant with a capacity less than 5MW as per Implementation Rules and Regulations

of Presidential Decree No. 1586, Establishing Environmental Impact Statement System unless

required by others parties or project participants (CDM-Executive Board, 2006), because of this

some of the hydro power plant do not have Environmental Certificate of Compliance. The rest of

hydro power plants receive a positive feedback and no issue of environmental impact reported.

In terms of assessing the Environmental impact of hydro power plant, we can say that there is no

difference in approach between small hydro and large hydro. The impact of the power is not

dependent on its generating capacity. This can be proven in our linear regression test which tells

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us that the size of power plant has a low correlation coefficient to its environmental impact. For

overall assessment we conclude that the overall impact of hydro power plant in the Philippines

still has significant effects to our environment but this impact is not that dangerous to lives of

people in the community since there were no issues of death reported.

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