Olongapo Aeta folk also caught between survival, solar shift
(Second of three parts)
OLONGAPO CITY—When Mount Pinatubo erupted in 1991, 63-year-old Aeta elder Trollie Romualdo was forced to flee the forests and rivers that had long sustained his community in San Marcelino, Zambales—a disruption that still shapes how they view change today.
More than three decades later, the uplands where many Aeta families rebuilt their lives are once again being transformed, this time by the rapid expansion of renewable energy projects.
On mountain slopes overlooking parts of this city, rows of solar panels now stretch across portions of a 6,300-hectare (ha) ancestral domain covered by a certificate of ancestral domain title.
The first phase of the solar project was deliberately placed away from sacred trails and active forest areas, helping gain support from some Indigenous leaders who saw potential opportunities for their communities.
But Romualdo, tribal chieftain of the 100-ha Iram resettlement site, said opposition grew after residents learned of plans to expand the project deeper into their area.
“We were surprised that there was already a resolution in 2022 from the mayor and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). We were not consulted—we had no knowledge of it,” Romualdo said in Filipino.
He said survey activities linked to the expansion later appeared near their community.
“Why is this happening? This is where we earn our livelihood and where we get the means to send our children to school,” Romualdo lamented.
Romualdo said earlier phases of development already showed a pattern where Indigenous workers were hired during construction but later displaced once projects neared completion.
“I do not agree with solar here and even across Zambales. Their promises are only temporary. But our land, as long as we continue to cultivate and care for it, will sustain us for life and even for the next generations,” he told the Inquirer.
As opposition from Romualdo’s community intensified, expansion plans shifted toward Mt. Balimpuyo, a forested area where many residents rely on farming.
Livelihood fears
Farmers warned the project could threaten livelihoods and worsen flooding in low-lying parts of the city.
For 55-year-old farmer Danilo Sauro, the mountain has long been his family’s source of survival. For over 30 years, he has cultivated bananas, mangoes and other crops, earning around P10,000 a month from produce sold locally and occasionally shipped to Metro Manila.
But uncertainty over the expansion has left families anxious.
“I’ve been so stressed thinking about this situation—I have no other livelihood except here in the mountains,” Sauro said.
Fearing displacement, he has already sold several of his carabaos while awaiting the outcome of ongoing discussions.
Another resident, Marilou Dabon, said the first phase of the project had already affected nearby farms after displaced wild boars began destroying crops.
Residents said they first learned about the expansion after survey teams entered the area. Some farmers refused requests to allow access to land they cultivate.
Growing resistance
In November last year, residents staged protests and submitted a petition signed by at least 919 people urging the city government to stop the expansion.
The petition cited environmental risks, alleged lack of consultation and concerns over what some residents described as “green grabbing” and “greenwashing.”
Residents stressed they were not against renewable energy but opposed projects they believed prioritized corporate interests over livelihoods and community rights.
Concerns included possible flooding, landslides and soil erosion in areas already classified as geohazard-prone.
Following consultations and mounting opposition, barangay officials later passed a resolution rejecting the expansion.
Company response
Aboitiz Power Corp., through subsidiary AP Renewable Energy Corp. (APREC), said its projects comply with all government regulations.
The company cited an independent flood study using HEC-RAS 2D simulations, which found the project would not worsen flooding even during extreme weather events.
APREC also said tree cutting during the first phase was limited to access roads and fire lines and complied with DENR regulations. For every tree cut, the company said it planted 100 seedlings—twice the required number.
The company said Phase 2 remains in the preliminary stage, with environmental studies still ongoing and no tree-cutting yet conducted.
APREC also highlighted local employment and community programs, saying more than half of workers hired during Phase 1 were from Zambales, including many from Olongapo City.
Since 2023, the company said it has invested around P4 million in community projects, including infrastructure support, disaster response and assistance for Indigenous Peoples.
“We engage in continuous dialogue with local residents, conduct thorough environmental and social impact assessments and strictly comply with all regulatory requirements,” the company said.
Balancing clean energy, Indigenous rights
Lawyer Angela Consuelo Ibay, head of the Climate Change and Energy Programme at the WWF-Philippines and national director of Earth Hour Pilipinas, said large-scale renewable energy projects are important in helping the country transition away from fossil fuels.
But she warned that poorly planned projects could still create environmental and social problems.
“A clean energy shift that ignores these principles risks creating new pressures and deepening existing inequalities,” Ibay said, stressing the need for meaningful consultation and respect for Indigenous communities.
She added that renewable energy projects can bring long-term benefits—but only when local communities are included in planning and decision-making from the start.
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