Sunstar Baguio
Monday, September 28, 2015
By MARIA ELENA CATAJAN
A BENGUET provincial board member is supporting several villages in Tuba in their fight to prevent the Baguio City government from taking over hydroelectric plants that control the supply of water for both Baguio and Tuba.
Blas Dalus, who heads the board’s committee on indigenous peoples, has declared he is against the move of Baguio City Hall to secure the permit that had been granted by the National Water Resources Board (NWRB) to the Baguio Water District to run the plants which are located in Tuba.
Dalus said transferring the permit needs a Free and Prior Informed Consent (FPIC) from the communities that will be affected.
Tuba Mayor Florecio Bentrez has asked the water board to reject Baguio’s request.
Baguio wants to manage the plants after the contract between the Baguio Water District and Hedcor, which runs the plants, expired in 2012. Since then the plants have been idle.
Dalus said Baguio needs the consent of Barangays Tadiangan, Nangalisan, Taloy Norte and Poblàcion in Tuba.
Tabuk town officials cited a case pending in the NWRB involving the water permits between the municipality ànd the Baguio Water District.
Dalus also said the consent of the indigenous peoples in the affected areas must be secured. source
Published in the Sun.Star Baguio newspaper on September 29, 2015.
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