Social Issues Raised and Measures Adopted in Philippine Geothermal Projects

Abstract

The social issues raised against geothermal projects in the Philippines for the past fourteen (14) years have been inventoried as follows: a) lack of consultation, b) physical and economic dislocation of settlements, c) lack of benefits d) encroachment of ancestral domain and e) privatization of the people's forest patrimony. The measures that have been developed to address these concerns are discussed. These measures include: a) awareness and acceptance campaigns, b) opening up communication, c) translating commitments into action d) third party multi-stakeholder monitoring, e) installation of environmental guarantee fund, f) resettlement, g) provision of benefits, h) protection of prior and ancestral rights, i) protection of patrimony and j) advocacy for appropriate public policies.