Residents of Barangay Abuyog, Sorsogon City opposed anew the planned construction of a 230kv substation of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) in their area. In a dialogue between NGCP and the residents at the barangay church on April 4, they opposed the plan due to its possible destruction of approximately 20 springs in their barangay.

Residents said these springs provide natural irrigation to the farms and other crops, as well as the people’s drinking and other domestic water needs. The trees and their farmland will likewise be destroyed, and the residents will lose their livelihood and homes. Despite the residents’ strong opposition, the barangay officials issued a certificate of no objection.

The site for the substation in Barangay Abuyog is 85 meters away from its original proposed location and is classified as agricultural land. The residents suggested that the substation instead be built in Barangay Bibingcahan.

The residents first opposed NGCP’s plan to build a substation in 2022. According to NGCP, they intend to acquire six hectares of the barangay but this area covers the water springs that the residents depend on. NGCP proposed that they would just dig a deepwell as a replacement for the affected springs, but the villagers rejected this. They said that the quality of their water is special compared to the dirty and undrinkable water from Prime Water, which provides water service in Sorsogon City.