Gov’t settling kinks with Lias tribe on P2-B road to link Kalinga, MP, Ifugao

By Dionie Chungalan

BARLIG, Mountain Province – Kinks are being ironed out between the government and tribal folks of this town for construction of a road linking Tanudan, Kalinga and the tourist town of Banaue in Ifugao which pass through their ancestral domain here.
    Although they earlier opposed it, some Lias Tribe members here reportedly were amenable to give their free, prior, informed consent (FPIC) to the multi-million project in a meeting here in July 9, 2020.
    But Lias folks opposed the project in a second meeting here Sept. 18 that year. The Department of Public Works and Highways had a budget of P1,978,99 for initial construction of the 25-km road.
    Of this length, 18 km passes through Lias ancestral domain.
    That time, the Lias Tribe opposed continuation of the project citing environmental degradation to their vast forest of wildlife and their safety saying unwanted settlers and illegal loggers would be encroaching over their ancestral lands.
    But in a recent gathering, pros and cons were reportedly considered with some folks saying development has socio-economic advantages but there are also disadvantages.
    Lawyer Wilson Kalangeg, provincial director of National Commission on Indigenous Peoples said issues “will be dealt with accordingly” when a memorandum of agreement between the DPWH and Lias Tribe will be promulgated by his office.
    “Rights of the minority who are land owners affected by the construction (of the road) with majority users shall be recognized, respected and upheld based on Republic Act  8371 (Indigenous Peoples Rights Act of 1997) to be reflected on the MOA to secure agreed conditions, solutions and assurance to eliminate future conflicts.”
    Three alternative road routes were earlier presented.
    First was that the road at Upper Agogo be continued.
    It was also proposed that the road would pass at kiosk site.
    Another alternative was for the road to pass Lias Proper from Kabawa Bridge following flow of the river.
    The council of elders urged a survey among all households saying this should be with knowledge and concurrence of Lias folks residing outside Barlig like Baguio and Manila within three weeks.
    From these road options, it will be determined where the road project would commence.
    It was agreed a final confrontation among NCIP staff, DPWH-MP District 2 headed by engineer Rustom Martinez, Barlig mayor Clark Ngaya, tribal heads and local folk will be scheduled.

After this, the FPIC and MOA will drafted for finalization.

It was learned a yearly regular allotment of P10 million will be released by DPW until the national road is completed.