The First Bukidnon Electric Company (FIBECO) and Greenergy Development Corporation initiated the revival of the Pulangi V project, which will construct a massive 125-high dam, poses a looming threat to the peaceful areas of the Municipalities of Damulog, Kibawe, Dangkagan, Kitao-tao, Quezon and Don Carlos of the Bukidnon Province and the Municipality of Roxas, Cotabato. At least 6,000 families will face the horrendous impact of landlessness, displacement and loss of livelihood. Worse, the Manobo tribe, whose ancestral domain and history is rooted in these very areas will be driven away and depriving them of their security of tenure, ancestral domain and culture.
The LRC-KsK/FOE strongly denounces such move of FIBECO and Greenergy. Such painful disregard to the fundamental human rights of the Manobos in displacing them and thousands of other civilians is truly lamentable. By constructing another dam, it will submerge 78,000 hectares of timberland and primarily agricultural lands. Carl Rebuta, LRC-Ksk/FOE-CDO Team Leader stated that, “There is a strong resistance regarding the putting up of this dam as it has a great impact in terms of the affected families. This project will mainly deprive them of their livelihood, culture and most importantly their security of tenure. They will not benefit from it”. He further added that there was no valid free-and prior consent, as required by the RA 8371, the Indigenous Peoples Rights, from the Manobo tribe and other municipalities.
FIBECO has made it clear that they are already processing the requirements for the construction, putting up teams to secure legal permits and complying with the conditions for the water rights from the National Water Regulatory Board (NWRB), the Environmental Impact Assessment process, social acceptability from the local government units and the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples. But FIBECO has not given direct notice to the Manobo Tribe, the communities and other affected areas regarding the construction of the dam. They have processed the requirements without engaging the communities in addressing directly the issues of ancestral domain and their livelihoods.
The LRC-KsK/FOE also puts strong emphasis on the preservation of the Apo Mamalu burial ground, a Stonehenge structure located in Mikasili, Damulog, Bukidnon. Considered as a sacred ground of the Manobos, as the root of their tribal history and culture, the construction of the dam will destroy and wipe-out the entire burial ground, desecrating the revered site and obliterate the root of their culture, traditional beliefs and history.
There are other alternative and viable means of producing electricity other than producing another dam here in Mindanao, without compromising the state of the Manobo tribe and the inhabitants of the province. Though they are adamant in their position that the income of the local government units of these areas will be great, there are no clear implementing policies and benefits for the Manobo tribes and the residents of these communities and the effects it will have on their ancestral domains, livelihood, income, security and most of all, their culture and identity. The Pulangi V project should not be implemented and the rights and the ancestral domain of the Manobo Tribe should be protected.
Contact Person:
Mr. Carl Rebuta
LRC-KsK/FOE
Legal Rights and Natural Resources Center-
Kasama sa Kalikasan/Friends of the Earth
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