Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 9) – An opposition lawmaker has called for a halt to the construction of Kaliwa Dam, which is considered to be the administration’s biggest solution to Metro Manila’s water woes.
During the hearing by the House Committee on Indigenous Cultural Communities and Indigenous peoples, the lawmakers revealed that the Free Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC), which serves as the memorandum of agreement between the Dumagat tribe and the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System, has yet to be signed.
Bayan-Muna Partylist Rep. Carlos Zarate said that without an FPIC, no operations should take place in creating the dam.
“I think this committee has already taken a cognizant that as admitted in this committee resource persons that despite the absence of an FPIC ay may ginagawa na silang activities in pursuant of Kaliwa Dam Project so yun po ang gusto natin maging subject ng mimungkahi ko na resolution calling for the cessation of any activity in that area,” said Zarate.
[Translation: I think it was already admitted by the resource persons in this committee hearing that despite the absence of an FPIC, activities pertaining to the construction of the Kaliwa Dam are still ongoing. My suggestion is to file a resolution calling for the cessation of any activity in that area.]
The National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), which serves as the negotiating party between the government agencies and indigenous peoples, said there is a lack of an FPIC because there was a misunderstanding in the sharing of the project’s profits.
NCIP said MWSS presented an amount of ₱10.7 million, which the indigenous peoples rejected.
“Ang nangyari po doon ay nagpresenta po ang MWSS ng a certain amount I believe it’s ₱10.7 million para maicover yung share of the profit subalit ang naging tanong po ng ating katutubo which is yon din ang tanong ng NCIP – paano po or ano ba ang basehan ng ₱10.7 million?” said Atty. Josefina Agusti, spokesperson of NCIP.
[Translation: The MWSS presented an amount of P10.7 million to cover the indigenous peoples’ share of profit. The IPs did not accept the amount. Their question was: what is the basis of the P10.7 million?]
NCIP says negotiations are currently laid out among agencies involved and the Dumagat Tribe.
According to MWSS, once the necessary documents are signed they are looking at starting excavation in General Nakar in Quezon province by December of this year.
