Trends in Philippine indigenous peoples’ land, resources

BEHIND THE SCENES

Alfred P. Dizon

(Second of two parts)

Mining is still a main threat faced by many indigenous groups in different regions of the Philippines, according to the presentation, according to the  Philippine Task for Indigensous Peoples Rights.  

“Ancestral lands and resources of the Igorot people in Benguet, Mt. Province, Ilocos Sur are endangered by ongoing mining operations of Lepanto Consolidated Mining Co. and Philex Mining, aside from several mining applications of Cordillera Exploration, Inc..  Pyramid Hill Mining Industrial Corp. has made aggressive moves in the Southern part of Palawan to extract limestone and cement. Benguet Corp. Nickel Mines, Inc. and its partner companies destroyed lands occupied by Ayta, Igorot and Sambal populations in Santa Cruz, Zambales,@ the group said in their statement.

Recently, the Financial and Technical Assistance Agreement (FTAA) of the Philippine government with Australian mining giant OceanaGold Philippines, Inc. reportedly expired on June 20.

OceanaGold applied for an extension of their FTAA, but this was met with strong resistance by the Ifugao indigenous people in Didipio and the local government of Nueva Vizcaya.”

“All mining operations and applications are governed by the Philippine Mining Act of 1995, a law that encourages foreign investments in mining. At present, 230 of the 447 approved mining applications are in ancestral territories, encroaching in at least 542,245 hectares of ancestral lands. This comprise 72% of the 748,590 hectares covered by all the approved mining applications.

“At least 130,000 hectares of ancestral lands are reportedly occupied and controlled by giant local and foreign corporations for different kinds of monocrop plantations including banana, pineapple, oil palm, bioethanol, coffee and other agribusiness crops.

“These plantations have worsened the loss of livelihood, hunger and human rights violations suffered by the indigenous peoples, especially in Mindanao and Palawan. The use of banned pesticides such as carbofuran (Furadan) and glyphosate has inflicted indigenous peoples living close to these plantations with respiratory, skin, and gastrointestinal diseases. Traditional crops such as coconut and banana have withered and died, incurring even more loss of income for the indigenous farmers.

“The New Clark City (NCC), previously called as Clark Green City, is another priority in the government’s Build, Build, Build program. The NCC reportedly covers more than 9,400 hectares of lands and encroaches on the ancestral territories of the indigenous Ayta in Tarlac.”

The NCC reportedly entails the setting up of a new city entirely for business interests. The project includes building of geothermal and dam energy projects that would cover up to 59,000 hectares of ancestral lands, and maintaining the 17,000 hectares Crow Valley Military Complex for US Military exercises, all to the detriment of Ayta communities in Pampanga, Tarlac and Zambales.

“Mega roads, such as the Clark-Subic Expressway and roads in Capas-Botolan, Davao del Norte-Bukidnon-Agusan del Sur-Misamis Oriental, are also prioritized under the Build Build Build program to serve the corporate interests of the agri-plantations, mines and other big business ventures encroaching in ancestral territories.”

The TFIP said when it comes to protecting the land and environment, for centuries, indigenous peoples have been practicing alternatives to destructive development aggression of the State and large corporations.

“Traditional knowledge, values and innovations adapted to the local culture and environment have been proven viable and sustainable through the years, ensuring the continued survival of present and future generations. Innovations in renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, climate adaptation and other initiatives have been developed. These are valuable not only for indigenous communities who depend on it in their daily lives, but to modern industry and agriculture as well.

“For example in the Cordillera indigenous practices that guide the utilization and management of natural resources within the ancestral domain include: Lapat, muyong, batangan, which are traditional forms sustainable forest and watershed management; Lampisa, sebbeg are traditional forms of communal irrigation, water management; Tuping is an effective way of stone wall building for land stabilization; Panag-usok is environmentally-sound traditional small-scale mining practices; Holok system of pest management utilizes the various parts of more than 25 plants to produce a pesticide against an army worms and other rice pests. Indigenous values of mindful living such as Inayan, lawa prohibit one from doing what is taboo or harmful to the community. Ayyew is simple, thrifty and unwasteful living. Kasiyana is a positive view of the future despite many obstacles. Ub-ubbo and binnadang are forms of community cooperation and solidarity that foster the spirit of  volunteerism. Unpinning these positive values is the worldview of Indigenous Peoples that Land is Life that needs to be nurtured and protected for the sake of past, present and future generations.

“State laws and policies regarding land and natural resources such as the Forestry Code, Philippine Mining Act of 1995, National Integrated Protected Areas System Act (NIPAS Act) and many others still disfavor indigenous peoples.

“Most of indigenous peoples’ ancestral lands are considered part of the public domain, meaning they are owned by the state and may be disposed by government agencies for their use or by private corporations for so-called “national development”.

The Integrated Forestry Management Agreement (IFMA), Pasture Lease Agreements, Timber Licensing Agreements have reportedly permitted large-scale exploitation of Philippine forests mostly found in ancestral domains and conversion of forests and agricultural lands to plantations, ranches and pasture land by private corporations.

“Examples of these are the coffee plantation of Silvicultural Industries, Inc. in Lake Sebu, rubber plantations for the use of giant tire manufacturers such as Goodyear and Yokohama, the oil palm plantations in Mindanao and Palawan, the Yulo King Ranch in Coron, Palawan, among others.

Even laws on conservation such as the National Integrated Protected Areas System Act (NIPAS Act) remove the rights of indigenous peoples to undertake economic activities like farming and gathering of forest products such medicinal plants, timber and animals from parts of their territories covered by the implementation of the policy.

“Many mining companies, plantation owners and other private corporations have gotten away without genuine FPIC process with indigenous communities. These were made possible through bribes given to leaders and influential members of communities causing division and internal disunity, coercion through the use of military, paramilitary and private armed groups, misinformation on supposed benefits leaving out potential disadvantages and adverse impacts, and manipulation of the FPIC process by the NCIP.

“Dams, energy projects and plantations have gotten away without the FPIC requirement as the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) does not provide for consent of host indigenous communities as a requirement to build and operate. Plantation owners assert that they are getting their permits from the Department of Agrarian Reform through conversion of Certificate of Land Ownership Awards (CLOA).

“Criminalization of Indigenous Peoples defending land, territories and resources

“Indigenous peoples rights defenders safeguarding their ancestral domains from plunder are being criminalized.

“Targeted indigenous organizations and communities are branded as communist fronts, their members vilified as terrorists through social media and distribution of black propaganda. The State has filed hundreds of trumped-up charges, conducted illegal searches, arrest and detained innocent civilians. Intensified military operations augmented by armed paramilitary groups sow terror, subject indigenous communities to violent attacks like bombing, strafing, harassment. Whole communities and thousands of Lumad in Mindanao have been forced to evacuate, abandoning homes, schools, farms, animals and properties for fear of their lives,” the TFIP concluded.