Trends in Philippine indigenous peoples’ land, resources

BEHIND THE SCENES

Alfred P. Dizon

(First of two parts)

BAGUIO CITY -- The recent decision of the Supreme Court “nullifying “spurious ancestral land titles in Baguio City” is now the talk in coffee shops among Baby Boomers of this summer capital.

Shortcut: The SC said such land titles are owned by the City of Baguio since these were proclaimed as townsite reservation areas in the city. The SC said the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples had no authority to issue Certificates of Ancestral Land Titles (CALTs) over these areas.

Ancestral land claimants in Baguio particularly the Ibalois are now apprehensive they will be dispossessed of their lands which their forebears have owned since “time immemorial.”

Observers are saying it is high time, the Ibalois of Baguio show more unity in addressing the issue considering that it is a matter of national significance. The SC decision is a wake-up call for the NCIP to address the matter, they are saying.

This, as indigenous groups and constituents are celebrating the Adivay Festival in nearby, La Trinidad, Benguet, on occasion of the 119th anniversary of the founding of Benguet. They are showcasing their different cultures in events.

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In a related development, Jacqueline K. Cariño of the Philippine Task Force for Indigenous Peoples Rights (TFIP) presented recommendations as regards indigenous people’s rights like on ancestral lands during the regional consultation on rights of indigenous peoples in Asia on Nov. 13-15 in Bangkok, Thailand.

This was based on data documented by indigenous peoples organizations during the Philippines national indigenous peoples consultation held Nov. 6-7 in Quezon City.

Their recommendations for action:

Respect indigenous peoples’ rights to land and territories. Recognize ancestral domains not necessarily through issuance of CADT/CALT but also those asserted by virtue of native title or declaration of territories.

Scrap the Philippine Mining Act of 1995. Repeal or amend all laws that blatantly disregard indigenous peoples’ rights to land, territories and resources.

Treat the FPIC (free, prior, informed consultation) as a right and part of the right to self-determination instead of being merely a procedural requirement.

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According to Carino’s presentation, the “situation of indigenous peoples’ land, territories and resources in the Philippines can be likened to a huge mango orchard laden with ripe fruits. After indigenous peoples planted the seeds, tended and grew the trees since time immemorial, the fruits, the trees and even the land on which they stand are coveted and now up for grabs by State and corporate interests.

“The current Philippine administration’s 10-point Economic Agenda and the Philippine Development Plan for 2017-2022 has set the policy framework for the grabbing of indigenous peoples’ land, territories and resources in violation of the right to self-determination. Government policies and programs in mining, energy development, plantations, forestry, special economic zones and infrastructure are marking a clear trend towards widespread dispossession and displacement of indigenous peoples from their ancestral territories.

“While the Philippines has the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act (IPRA), considered by the international community as a landmark legislation in the recognition of indigenous peoples’ rights, provides for the issuance of Certificates of Ancestral Land and Ancestral Domain Titles (CALT / CADT) and requires Free Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) for projects to be implemented in their territories. However, the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) has fallen far way below and even violated its own mandate of protecting indigenous peoples’ rights.

“The facts are too many to mention, yet the following examples clearly show how the provisions of the IPRA and the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) are being violated by the State and corporate interests in pursuit of their neoliberal economic agenda.

Energy, dams and water supply projects:

“Among the priority projects in Philippines under the Build Build Build program of President Duterte are the Chico River Pump Irrigation Project in Kalinga and the New Centennial Water Source-Kaliwa Dam project in Rizal and Quezon provinces.  Both projects are being built in indigenous communities with detrimental effects, both are revivals of the Marcos-era mega-dam projects, both are multi-billion peso projects funded by onerous Chinese loan agreements disadvantageous to the interest of the Filipino people, both are staunchly protested and resisted by the affected communities and other organizations.

“Many hydropower projects are ongoing or planned in other ancestral territories that will displace more than 100,000 indigenous peoples from at least 106 villages. These include: the Agus-Pulangi dams in Bukidnon and North Cotabato; Balog-balog dam in Ayta lands in Tarlac, Ilaguen Dam in Isabela, Diduyon Dam in Nueva Vizcaya, Jalaur Multi-Purpose Project and Pan-ay River Basin Integrated Development Project in the Tumandok lands in Iloilo and Capiz; Alimit Hydro Complex of the SN Abotiz in Ifugao; Karayan dam in Kalinga; Dupinga dam in Nueva Ecija; Sumag River Diversion Tunnel in Quezon, and the Violago Olympia Power Dam in Rizal.”

Aside from hydropower, the presentation said geothermal energy will be harnessed in the projects of American company Chevron and local company Aragorn Power and Energy in Kalinga province; the PRC Magma in the provinces of Benguet, Mt. Province, and Ifugao; and the Aboitiz Power Corp. in Pampanga and Zambales, and in South Cotabato. Coal Operating Contracts (COC) issued by the Department of Energy are also encroaching on hundreds of thousands of hectares of ancestral lands in 7 municipalities of Surigao del Sur covering parts of the sacred Andap Valley Complex, and in the provinces of Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga Sibugay, Sarangani, South Cotabato, Agusan del Sur, Agusan del Norte and Palawan.

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I would like to share this post by a dying lady. Here are her top five regrets.

1. I wish I'd had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.
2. I wish I hadn't worked so hard.
3. I wish I'd had the courage to express my feelings.
4. I wish I'd stayed in touch with my friends.
5. I wish that I'd let myself be happier.
What do you think?