The Order of Friars Minor in Manila has called for accountability, transparency, and the protection of cultural and environmental heritage following a government order suspending activities related to the proposed Ahunan Pumped Storage Hydropower Project in Pakil, Laguna.
In a statement issued June 9, Br. Lino Gregorio Redoblado, OFM, minister provincial of the Franciscan Province of San Pedro Bautista, expressed concern over the project’s potential impact on sites that hold historical, cultural, religious, and spiritual significance for the community.
The statement followed a cease-and-desist order issued by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), which directed the immediate suspension of activities related to the 1,400-megawatt project after raising concerns about its impact on cultural heritage sites in Pakil.
Redoblado said the issue goes beyond regulatory compliance and raises broader questions about stewardship, heritage protection, and responsibility to future generations.
“The Franciscan Province of San Pedro Bautista expresses its deep concern regarding the continuing developments related to the proposed Ahunan Pumped Storage Hydropower Project,” he said, noting the project’s potential impact on sites that carry profound significance for the people of Pakil and the nation.
The NHCP said project proponents had not submitted development plans and a Heritage Impact Assessment requested by the commission to evaluate possible impacts on cultural properties in Pakil.
Among the sites cited by the commission are the San Pedro de Alcantara Parish Church, an NHCP-marked historical structure and Grade II cultural property, and the historic Turumba Spring, a landmark tied to the town’s centuries-old devotion to Nuestra Señora de los Dolores de Turumba.
Under the National Cultural Heritage Act, cultural agencies may order the suspension of activities when important cultural properties are at risk of destruction or significant alteration. The NHCP said the suspension would remain in effect until lifted by its Board of Commissioners.
The Franciscans said development projects must respect both people and place.
“As Franciscans, we believe that authentic development must always uphold the dignity of persons, protect the integrity of creation, and respect the cultural and spiritual heritage of communities,” the group said.
“Economic progress cannot be pursued at the expense of the very treasures that nourish a people’s identity, faith, and history,” it added.
The order also cited the NHCP’s finding that construction and related development activities reportedly proceeded despite previous requests for project plans and a heritage assessment.
The Franciscans called on all concerned parties to respect the rule of law and due process, ensure transparency through the disclosure of studies, permits, clearances, and assessments required by law, and engage in meaningful consultation with local communities, Church leaders, cultural workers, environmental advocates, and other stakeholders.
They also urged decision-makers to place “the common good above narrow interests,” ensuring that decisions are guided by ecological sustainability, cultural preservation, and social justice.
The statement came as local anti-dam advocates alleged that construction-related activities had continued despite the NHCP order.
Mamamayang Nagmamahal sa Pakil (MaNaPak) called on Ahunan Power Inc. to immediately comply with the suspension directive and urged local authorities and concerned government agencies to enforce it.
In a statement issued by Danilo V. Francisco, the group said continuing construction despite a government order showed a lack of respect for the law, the town’s cultural heritage, and residents who would be directly affected by the project.
MaNaPak also warned that continued operations and construction activities could place Pakil’s natural, cultural, and spiritual resources at greater risk while undermining confidence in the enforcement of environmental and heritage protection laws.
The Franciscans expressed solidarity with the Diocese of San Pablo, the people of Pakil, and those seeking to preserve the historic San Pedro de Alcantara Church, the devotion to Nuestra Señora de los Dolores de Turumba, and the natural environment that sustains the community.
“As we commemorate the 800th Anniversary of the Easter (Transitus) of St. Francis of Assisi, we are reminded that peace with God must be reflected in peace with creation and with one another,” the Franciscans said.
“The challenge before us is not simply about a development project; it is about the kind of future we wish to leave to succeeding generations,” they added.
Local groups have opposed the estimated US$1.1 billion hydropower project since 2020, citing concerns over deforestation, threats to water sources, flooding, displacement of communities, loss of livelihoods, and damage to the area’s cultural and natural heritage. – with reports from Mark Saludes
