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Despite opposition from other tribal communities: Bugkalots now supporting mining in Nueva Vizcaya

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya – Amid opposition from other tribal communities, one of this province’s indigenous tribes affirmed their stand supporting national government development projects, including mining activities in their ancestral lands.

In a resolution, the remaining Bug­kalots, especially those living within the Nueva Vizcaya-Quirino-Aurora hinterland border, who formed a confederation to solidify their pro-mining stance, also came out with a resolution resolving to ban or outlaw any activities that would hamper the entry of development activities within their so-called ancestral domain.

The resolution was unanimously endorsed by elders and leaders of the Bugkalot confederation, including their acknowledged overall chieftain, Mayor Rosario Camma of Natipunan, Quirino as well as Mayor Jerry Pasiguian of Alfonso Castañeda, Nueva Vizcaya.

The resolution came in the wake of the ongoing anti-mining barricades and protest actions by some members of another local tribe, also backed by a group of Bugkalot themselves led by Mariano Maddela, a village official of Barangay Pao, Kasibu town, which is part of a national government-sanctioned exploration project of the Australian firm Royalco Philippines.

The barricades have been there since last year in an effort by anti-mining groups to block the entry of any mining activities in the area, which the pro-mining Bugkalot confederation described as its ancestral territory.

The anti-mining villagers claimed of a looming environmental disaster, including the massive destruction of their lands and waters, which they have nurtured for generations once mining activities started to operate in their area. Instead of mining, what the national leadership should focus, they said, should be the strengthening of agricultural activities in the area.

Citing RA 8371, the pro-mining confederation said that the adjoining portions of Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino and Aurora, with an area of 202,324.7288 hectares have been ceded as the Bugkalot’s ancestral territory, thus, granted them (Bugkalots) the right to determine and decide the tribe’s priorities for development.

“Inherent to the awarding of the ancestral domain to the Bugkalots through the certificate of ancestral domain title and certificate of ancestral domain claim is the legal and final recognition by the national government of the rights of ownership, including the right to manage and develop the area pursuant to RA 8371, or the Indigenous People’s Rights Act,” said Camma.

In the confederation’s board meeting, its members, with the Bugkalots’ council of elders, have unanimously expressed support for all developmental programs, including the conduct of mining activities within their ancestral area as defined in RA 8371.

Earlier, Camma appealed to fellow indigenous tribes to stop barricading the entry to exploration sites and give the mining programs of the government a chance to operate in their area. -- CL