'Phl sitting on $3.9-T hydropower potential'

The Philippines holds around $3.9 trillion in hydropower potential, which, according to industry experts, would not only boost electricity supply but also curb worsening floods and enhance farm productivity.

- By BRIX LELIS

"The estimate is around 650 gigawatts of (untapped potential) because we're an archipelago and we're surrounded by water," said Gertrude Roque, president of the private sector-backed Philhydro Association Inc.

To unlock this vast potential, Roque said the country would need an investment of roughly $5 million to $6 million per megawatt.

"But of course, not all sites are accessible. Road openings, as we call them — especially in mountainous areas — are very difficult, costly and risky," she said.