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Indigenous peoples advocates hold march to protest Kaliwa dam project

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Zyann Ambrosio, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Indigenous peoples rights advocates picket in front of the National Commission for Indigenous Peoples office in Quezon City on World Day of Social Justice, February 20, 2023, criticizing the agency for its supposed involvement in pushing for the construction of the New Centennial Water Source - Kaliwa Dam Project. The group raised concern about the alleged manipulation of NCIP in acquiring free prior informed consent from affected IP communities, particularly Dumagats and Remontados in Quezon and Rizal, for the Kaliwa Dam Project. The protesters fear the dam" s="" environmental="" impact="" on="" the="" ancestral="" lands="" and="" livelihood.="" Mark="" ABS-CBN="" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/news/02/20/20230220-kaliwa-dam-ncip-protest-md-4.jpg"/><figcaption>Indigenous peoples rights advocates picket in front of the National Commission for Indigenous Peoples office in Quezon City on World Day of Social Justice, February 20, 2023, criticizing the agency for its supposed involvement in pushing for the construction of the New Centennial Water Source - Kaliwa Dam Project. The group raised concern about the alleged manipulation of NCIP in acquiring free prior informed consent from affected IP communities, particularly Dumagats and Remontados in Quezon and Rizal, for the Kaliwa Dam Project. The protesters fear the dam&#x27;s environmental impact on the IPs&#x27; ancestral lands and livelihood. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News</figcaption></figure></div>MANILA — In observance of the “World Day of Social Justice,” indigenous peoples (IP) groups and rights advocates on Monday marched towards the office of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) in Quezon City.The marchers said they are protesting the Kaliwa dam Project of the government as it may submerge the ancestral land of the Dumagat Remontado tribes.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/multimedia/photo/02/20/23/ip-rights-advocates-protest-kaliwa-dam-project">IP rights advocates troop to NCIP, protest Kaliwa Dam project</a></li></ul>According to Kakay Tolentino, coordinator of BAI Indigenous Women&#x27;s Network, the construction of the dam will result in their forcible displacement from their ancestral land, loss of livelihood, fishing grounds and sacred sites.“Ang layunin ng protests ay para ipahayag ang ating pagtutol laban sa Kaliwa dam ng NCIP at lalo ng implementor ng dam na MWSS (Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System). Kami ay papaalisin, ililipat ang ating tahanan,&quot; she said.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/multimedia/photo/02/13/23/stop-kaliwa-dam-project">IP representatives say ‘No to Kaliwa Dam’</a></li></ul>&quot;Sabi ng aming ninuno, ang Sierra Madre ang ating tahanan, pinagbilin na ipagtanggol namin hanggang sa mga susunod na henerasyon,&quot; she added.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/09/27/22/stop-kaliwa-dam-groups-call-anew-on-save-sierra-madre-day">Stop Kaliwa Dam, groups call anew on Save Sierra Madre Day</a></li></ul>In a Zoom interview with the regional hearing officer of NCIP Region 4-A, Atty. Josefina Agusti said that those who will be directly affected by the construction of the dam will be relocated through the Land Acquisition and Resettlement Plan (LARP).The NCIP added the affected tribes gave their consent to the project after more than 7 years of convincing.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/06/22/palace-says-ips-consulted-in-kaliwa-dam-project">Next Pharmally? Palace says Filipino interests &#x27;prioritized&#x27; in Kaliwa Dam deals</a></li></ul>“Umabot din ng 7 years and 6 months... Ipinaliwanag sa kanila... hanggang sa napapayag sila,&quot; she said.Authorities even explained to the tribes that contrary to their belief that the construction of the dam will cause flooding, NCIP said the dam can even help control flooding in Infanta and Real, Quezon.&quot;Ngayon na walang dam mas mabilis ang flash flood sa area. Dahil ito ay watershed,&quot; she said.In the process, the MWSS will continue to give the tribes their annual share of the gross income from water production.NCIP added that the timetable for the construction of the Kaliwa dam depends on the MWSS, which is expected to start mid-2023.

Construction of the dam will displace Dumagats from their ancestral land, as well as loss of livelihood, fishing grounds and sacred sites, according to a leader of the protesters.

Indigenous peoples advocates hold march to protest Kaliwa dam project

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Indigenous peoples advocates hold march to protest Kaliwa dam project

Zyann Ambrosio,

ABS-CBN News

Published Feb 20, 2023 08:35 PM PHT

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