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The Philippines’ drive for renewable energy (RE) faces a clash with environmental and cultural concerns over the proposed Banahaw Wind Power Project. GIGAWIND4, a subsidiary of ACEN Corp. under the Ayala Group, plans a 247-megawatt (MW) installation in Quezon Province, with an estimated cost of ₱34.5 billion.
The proposed wind power site near Mount Banahaw has sparked strong, organized opposition. The mountain serves as both a critical watershed and a sacred landmark for Indigenous and religious communities in Quezon and Laguna.
Environmental groups argue that industrial development should not proceed within the Mounts Banahaw-San Cristobal Protected Landscape, protected under Republic Act No. 9847, emphasizing that the mountain’s centuries-old spiritual and cultural significance makes it unsuitable for such construction, even for RE.
Most of the planned 38 turbines—each roughly 120 meters tall—would sit within three kilometers of the protected landscape, requiring extensive road networks across 4,536 hectares. Environmental groups warn that construction could trigger soil erosion, siltation, and flooding, threatening local water supplies and livelihoods.
The upcoming Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Environmental Impact Assessment, especially the Public Scoping sessions, will be a key battleground for opponents to challenge the project and push for meaningful community consent, potentially reshaping or halting construction.
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Other RE projects facing opposition
Around the world, projects have sparked opposition for threatening Indigenous rights and environmental integrity. In Kenya, the Lake Turkana Wind Power Project displaced local communities and fueled social tensions. In Norway and Sweden, wind farms have disrupted Sámi reindeer herding, undermining livelihoods, cultural heritage, and traditional land use.
In the Philippines, other RE projects, both planned and operational, have also sparked controversy.
- Wind power project in Calbayog, Leyte
Developer: Gemini Wind Energy Corp. (subsidiary of Singapore-based Vena Energy)
Status: Proposed / Pre-Development
Project details: The ₱20-billion Gemini Wind Power Project is slated to be built in the Calbayog Pan-as Hayiban Protected Landscape (CPHPL) in Leyte. The plan calls for 38 wind turbines to be installed across 13 barangays, with two additional barangays in San Isidro, Northern Samar, also included in the development footprint.
Opposition: Environmental group SACRIFICE warned that the Gemini Wind Power Project could harm the 7,832-hectare Calbayog Pan-as Hayiban Protected Landscape, threatening wildlife, the watershed, and increasing landslide risks. Calbayog Mayor Raymund Uy called for revoking the 2023 city council resolution endorsing the project, saying activities in the protected area should not be allowed.
- Floating solar project in Laguna de Bay
Developer: ACEN Corp.
Status: Proposed / Pre-Development
Project details: The Save Laguna Lake Movement (SLLM) reported that the proposed floating solar project will span roughly 2,000 hectares of Laguna Lake, including areas in Calamba, Cabuyao, Santa Rosa, Bay, and Victoria. ACEN has reportedly signed a lease agreement with the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) for 800 hectares of the lake for the project.
Opposition: In May 2025, fisherfolk and environmental advocates called on DENR Secretary Raphael Lotilla to reject the project, warning it would threaten the livelihoods of over 8,000 small fishers and coastal residents. The fishers’ group Pamalakaya (Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas) urged the DENR to adopt people-centered, rights-based policies on environmental protection and climate adaptation.
- Wind farm in the Masungi Georeserve, Rizal
Developer: Rizal Wind Energy Corporation & Vena Energy
Status: Advanced pre-development stage, according to a 2024 report
Project details: In February 2019, the Board of Investments approved a 603-MW wind power development proposed by Rizal Wind Energy Corp. (RWEC). In early 2024, the Masungi Georeserve Foundation (MGF) reported that RWEC had begun drilling within the Masungi Karst Conservation Area (MKCA) in Tanay as part of its plan to install 12 wind turbines on the site.
Opposition: MGF cautioned that the project could damage about 500 hectares of the MKCA, as construction would involve large road networks and the clearing of forests and vegetation in an area already vulnerable due to underground caves and sinkholes. However, DENR already issued an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) and said that it would implement measures to eliminate or minimize the project’s environmental impact.
- Geothermal Project in Kidapawan City, North Cotabato
Developer: Originally initiated by the Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC) and the Lopez-led Energy Development Corporation (EDC). The project has been under EDC since 2009.
Status: Fully operational since 1999
Project details: The plant is located in Barangay Ilomavis, Kidapawan City, North Cotabato, tapping the geothermal resource on the northwestern flank of Mount Apo. It has a combined capacity of about 106 MW, consisting of two main units (52 MW + 54 MW) plus a 4 MW expansion unit (binary cycle) added in 2022.
Opposition: The Indigenous Group, the Manobo, resisted expansion into ancestral lands, asserting the mountain is sacred, housing traditional practices, and that development risks environmental and cultural disruption. From 1988 to 1991, opposition delayed project implementation, citing unresolved legal, environmental, and cultural conflicts with communities and government.
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Legal protections for land & communities
Controversies in RE development continue to surface, even though the Philippines has these laws meant to protect sensitive landscapes and uphold Indigenous rights.
- Renewable Energy Act of 2008 (Republic Act No. 9513)
This law encourages the development of RE sources through fiscal incentives and the establishment of a Renewable Energy Trust Fund. It mandates that RE projects undergo an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) to evaluate potential environmental effects and ensure compliance with environmental standards. The DOE is responsible for its implementation.
Under Presidential Decree No. 1586, all projects, including RE developments, must secure an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) from the DENR. This process involves assessing the potential environmental impacts of a project and implementing measures to mitigate adverse effects.
This landmark legislation recognizes and protects the rights of Indigenous Cultural Communities/Indigenous Peoples (ICCs/IPs). It mandates that any project affecting Indigenous lands and resources must obtain Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) from the concerned communities. The National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) is responsible for ensuring the implementation of this act.
Developed for the Access to Sustainable Energy Project (ASEP), the ESSF provides guidelines to prevent or minimize environmental degradation, protect human health, and compensate for any loss of assets or livelihood. It emphasizes the importance of community engagement and the protection of Indigenous rights throughout the project cycle.
Balancing energy transition and social justice
The Philippines urgently needs RE to cut emissions and reduce its reliance on fossil fuels, but sustainability cannot be pursued at the expense of vulnerable ecosystems or Indigenous communities.
A truly just transition requires better planning, stronger transparency, and genuine consultation with affected groups. Without these, green projects risk repeating the same patterns of displacement, environmental damage, and exclusion long associated with extractive industries, ultimately contradicting the very goals they claim to advance.
Journalist Raymond Tribdino offered this reflection on the controversial Banahaw wind power project: “It forces a critical examination of where, how, and for whom renewable energy should be built, raising fundamental questions about whether national climate goals can be achieved without compromising environmental justice, cultural preservation, and the rights of host communities. As the country accelerates its renewable energy buildout, the Banahaw case may well define the template for how—or whether—such conflicts can be resolved.”
Sources:
https://cleantechnica.com/2025/10/02/wind-farm-on-a-sacred-philippine-mountain-sparks-controversy/
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2063237/new-denr-chief-urged-to-reject-laguna-floating-solar-project
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1905939/masungi-caretakers-resist-planned-wind-energy-farm
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1905939/masungi-caretakers-resist-planned-wind-energy-farm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Apo_Geothermal_Power_Plant
https://edgedavao.net/environment/2024/08/environment-geothermal-power-from-down-under
https://www.osti.gov/etdeweb/servlets/purl/620606
https://eia.emb.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/eia-ecc.pdf
https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/2008/12/16/republic-act-no-9513