Tribe elders oppose power plant

Manila Standard Today
By Dexter A. See | Apr. 14, 2014 at 12:01am

SABANGAN, Mountain Province—Tribal elders have asked the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) to stop construction of a 14-megawatt hydro-electric plant and pay the tribes P54 million for the damages caused on cultural sites.

Tribal elder Baldo Budod said the Hydroelectric Development Corp and the Sta. Clara International failed to consult the elders and the alleged consent the companies obtained from residents did not go through their customary decision-making process.

“The hydroelectric plant’s on-going construction has destroyed two waterfalls, a rock regarded as a ritual site, two pools whose origin was steeped in folklore and two caves of historical interest,” Budod said.

The complaints filed by elders at the NCIP was supported by the Napua Sabangan United Tour Guides Association. The group claimed the power plant deprived its members of income from tourists, who are attracted by its natural beauty.

The association said the power plant construction has damaged the following eco-tourism sites: Nanbayo Falls, Paklayan Falls, Wasay mining cave, sentimental rock (a rock perched on another rock), Bakwitan cave, Sigbon Yungaan pool, Sigbon Pepa pool, Sigbon Binulay pool and the Toking Mining cave.

Jupiter Dominguez, former Sabangan mayor and adviser to the association, said the NCIP should declare as invalid the prior consent given to the companies and proper consultation should be made with tribal elders and villagers because their “entry into the area were flawed.”

Brian Masweng, the NCIP hearing officer, has asked contending parties to submit position papers within 10 days before it could decide on the petition for a restraining order.

Wasweng has asked both parties to settle their differences outside the court but company representatives said they have no authority to bind the corporations on the terms and conditions. source