Aboitiz Renewables, Inc., the renewable energy arm of Aboitiz Power Corporation (AboitizPower), maintains active power generation for the Luzon grid by optimizing mountain water runoff across its facilities in Benguet and Mountain Province.
Operating nine run-of-river hydropower plants in Benguet and one in Mountain Province, the company leverages the steep Cordillera slopes to keep turbines spinning. By harnessing the intense pressure of water falling from great heights, these facilities generate electricity efficiently throughout the year, regardless of the season.
To sustain this performance, the company maintains a 24-hour watch over its water sources through a specialized team of “Waterguards.” Stationed at the weirs, these personnel conduct hourly monitoring using staff gauges to ensure water levels remain sufficient for both power generation and ecological health.
This real-time data is critical to the plant’s responsiveness; when levels begin to trend downward, the team takes proactive action by reducing the plant’s load. By calibrating generation to the exact volume available in the river, the facility ensures it only generates what the environment can sustainably provide.
This operational precision is bolstered by the active protection of upstream watersheds. Through physical patrolling, fire-line maintenance, and community-led monitoring, the company prevents illegal encroachment and “kaingin” (slash-and-burn) farming.
The team also employs bio-engineering—such as planting native trees and vetiver grass—to anchor steep slopes against erosion and landslides. These healthy forest perimeters act as a “natural sponge,” absorbing heavy rainfall to shield downstream residents from flash floods while regulating the flow during summer months.
“The mountains provide a natural advantage,” says Dondi Laban, Assistant Vice President for Operations and Maintenance of Hedcor, Inc. “As water flows from high elevations, its natural pressure turns our turbines. We maintain a constant watch over the ‘ecological flow’ to ensure enough water reaches fish, plants, and local irrigation.”
As the Philippines pursues a 35% clean energy mix by 2030, hydropower provides the essential flexibility and reliability the grid requires. Through these eleven facilities, Aboitiz Renewables ensures the natural strength of the mountains continues to move the nation forward when that energy is needed most.
“Hydropower is more than a source of energy—it is a partnership with the rivers, the environment, and the people,” says Noreen Vicencio, First Vice President and General Manager for Hydro Operations of Aboitiz Renewables. “Every drop we harness helps communities thrive while ensuring the river keeps its life-giving flow.”
