Profiling of PNOC-EDC's Host Communities Project

On 11 July 2007 the Philippine National Oil Company- Energy Development Corporation (PNOC-EDC) commissioned the Orient Integrated Development Consultants, Inc. (OIDCI) to conduct the “Profiling of PNOC-EDC’s Host Communities Project” in five geothermal sites in the Philippines, namely: Mindanao Geothermal Production Field (MGPF) in Kidapawan, North Cotabato; Leyte Geothermal Production Field (LGPF) in Kananga, Leyte; Southern Negros Geothermal Production Field (SNGPF) in Valencia, Negros Oriental; Bacman Geothermal Production Field (BMGPF) in Sorsogon and Albay; and Northern Negros Geothermal Production Field (NNGPF) in Mailum, Bago City.

The study focuses its investigation on the 43 primary partner barangays (PPBs), which are the direct primary beneficiaries of the strengthened Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Program and the package of health, education, livelihood and environment projects (acronym HELEn) that PNOC-EDC has been implementing along with the ongoing socio-cultural projects benefiting the PPB communities. The PPBs include both the “host barangays” that are the legally mandated recipients of royalty payments and benefit funds under Energy Regulation 1-94, and the surrounding barangays that have immediate access to the geothermal plant facilities.

OIDCI conducted inventory and analysis of existing characteristics of the host communities including community structure, social, economic and political systems; decision-making processes and factors affecting decisions; overall psyche of the communities or behavior of the same; developmental ability of the communities and the maturation of these communities for sustainable community development; and, acceptance of PNOC-EDC project, programs and personnel), based on data already available in the PNOC-EDC. A review of the perceived and actual needs of the host communities vis-à-vis the current CSR program of the PNOC-EDC was also conducted.

Based on the results of the profiling, OIDCI recommended strategies for the improvement of adverse perceptions and enhancement of positive perceptions on the PNOC-EDC. An installation of a system for the measurement of the community’s loyalty to the CSR projects and to the PNOC-EDC for the sustenance of the CSR program was also recommended to be undertaken, as well as developing the design, procedures and timetable to build up the communities’ loyalty to the CSR program and the PNOC-EDC.

To culminate the Project, the Community Partnership Department as well as its site personnel shall be oriented by the OIDCI Consultant Team on the procedures for the proper conduct of social audits/analysis and on the management of the monitoring systems that need to be installed.