KIBUNGAN, Benguet – Alarmed indigenous peoples (IP) leaders from various barangays in the municipality pleaded to the concerned municipal officials to extend the necessary assistance to them in ventilating their vehement opposition to the water rights application of the controversial Coheco Badeo Corporation over the Amburayan river for its 500-megawatt pump storage hydropower project because it is allegedly being done without the mandatory free and prior informed consent (FPIC) from the owners of the domain.
In their letter addressed to Mayor Cesar M. Molitas, the embattled IP leaders accused the company of applying for the issuance of water rights with the National Water Resources Board (NWRB) without the proper consultation with them and securing their consent pursuant to the provisions of Republic Act (RA) 8371 or the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA).
“We in Mocgao, Badeo have come up with a consensus to oppose the said water permit application. However, our voice is not enough because we are going against a wealthy and influential corporation owned by a Korean national and being aided by IPs themselves who seem to try to get one over us. We might just be ignored by the NWRB and the project proponent,” the letter of the IPs stressed.
The IPs requested Mayor Molitas to stand by them by writing a letter to the NWRB or do whatever is appropriate under the circumstances to uphold their rights under the IPRA.
On January 21, 2017, the IPs were informed about the water rights application of Coheco Badeo Corporation and according to the barangay officials of Badeo, they have yet to receive notice from the NWRB, hence, the said protest was filed on time.
The IPs asserted the Amburayan river has been the source of water for farms in various communities since time in memorial and it is serving as the main source of drinking water for both wild and domesticated animals.
Likewise, the Amburayan river and its peripheral areas serve as the hunting ground for the indigenous peoples of Badeo, Kibungan, and Gadang, Kapangan, and Sapdaan, Santol, La Union as it is the home of various species of fish and wild animals.
According to the affected IPs, the water permit application of the company, if granted, allows the use of a huge volume of water by constructing a huge dam along the Amburayan river and diverting the water to its proposed upper dam definitely damaging the fish and wild animal sanctuary along the river as well as depriving the IPs of their gold panning activities which is one of their main sources of livelihood for centuries.
The IPs argued the construction of the huge dams and the diversion of the natural flow of water would be detrimental to the IPs residing along and near the river as many of them would be forced to relocate to unknown places against their will which would pose social unrest among the affected communities.
The IPs pointed the Amburayan River and its surrounding areas are ancestral domains of indigenous cultural communities and many parts are their traditional fishing and hunting grounds.
Under the IPRA, the consent of the IPs must be obtained first by the proponent before any permit will be granted and forced eviction is not allowed.
By HENT
