Tribal folks oppose power plant in Ifugao

TINOC, Ifugao – Residents and barangay officials opposed construction of a hydro power plant here saying they were coerced and decieved by proponents into signing a memorandum of agreement for the purpose.

In petition letters, the communities of Eheb and Tokucan here demanded immediate stoppage and cancellation of the project because of  violations committed by the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples, Quadriver Energy Corp. and coercion of municipal officials

“Nasaor, saan mi naawatan ken naapura  kami iti panagpirma mi iti MOA. (We were deceived, we did not understand and we were rushed in signing the MOA),”said Teofilo Wenhay, barangay chief here of Eheb. Joseph Calabson, barangay head of  Tokucan concurred with Wenhay’s statement.

The Cordillera Peoples Alliance, a militant group supporting indigenous people’s concerns said it supported decision of Eheb and Tokucan barangay folks in retracting their signatures to the MOA with QEC.

Quadriver reportedly intended to operate a hydro plant but this will negatively affect said communities.

Quadriver Energy Corp. is a joint venture between Ayala-controlled AC Energy and Sta. Clara Power Corp.

According to Abigail Anongos, CPA secretary general,  Kalanguya indigenous peoples of Eheb and Tokucan retracted and withdrew their signatures in the MOA with QEC due to the power company and  National Commission on Indigenous People’s disregard of the people’s “free, prior and informed consent.”

Philippine laws mandate that the FPIC of residents affected by projects like power plants which would affect them is needed before such projects are carried out.

Eheb and Tokucan tribal folks said the MOA they signed with  Quadriver was marked with irregularities, manipulation and railroading of the FPIC.

They also said NCIP officials of Ifugao including most Tinoc municipal officials and employees rushed them into signing the MOA instead of protecting their right to freely decide on the project.   

In their petition letter submitted to NCIP chairperson Leonor Quintayo, dated Aug. 10, 2014, the Kalanguya indigenous peoples of Tokucan listed 12 violations by the NCIP and  Quadriver.

Among violations: “the MOA was not written in their own language, the MOA was notarized even without  the names and signature of their elders, most Tinoc municipal officials and employees pressed the people from the affected communities to sign the MOA  and  Quadriver ignored their clamor for further explanation and renegotiation of the project.”

Affected folks cited 15 reasons for their non-consent to the proposed mini hydro project.

They said the mini hydro project brought disunity among the people.

“The project will affect vegetable gardens, rice fields and Quadriver never listened to the request of affected indigenous folks in rerouting tunnels and ways that will destroy burial grounds.

“Quadriver did not fully divulge affected areas, there was blatant intervention of most municipal officials and the NCIP never listened to the opposition of the people.”

Meanwhile, Anongos said “in the MOA with Eheb, Quadriver is only to pay a royalty of 0.005 centavos. This amount is an insult and totally unacceptable to the indigenous peoples of Eheb. Quadriver has no right to impose such unacceptable centavo to the community who nurtured and protected the land and natural resources with much respect since time immemorial.” 

Angongos said the “CPA deplores these violations committed by the NCIP and the Quadriver against the indigenous peoples of Tinoc. Once again, the brazen involvement of the NCIP in favoring Quadriver over the indigenous communities, and in manipulating the FPIC of the affected communities is a crime against the indigenous people whom they are supposed to protect.”

Anongos said “for CPA and communities of Eheb and Tokucan, this is unacceptable. The NCIP and the Quadriver must be held accountable to the FPIC violations in Tinoc.”