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NCIP officials dismay Apayao, Kalinga folk

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet (Dec.10) — Representatives of affected communities in Balbalan, Kalinga and Conner, Apayao were disappointed with the treatment they got from National Commission for Indigenous People (NCIP)-Cordillera regional office officials during a dialogue on December 10 regarding the exploration permit application of the Cordillera Exploration Company, Inc. (CEXCI) at Laucon, the ancestral domain of the Buaya tribe in Balbalan.

The representatives also questioned the Free Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) process.

Felix Macsin an affected resident from Balbalan criticized the NCIP officials for not listening to their side. He stressed that they went to the regional office in good faith to express their opinion on the controversial exploration permit application.

Macsin added that instead of uniting the people to protect their ancestral land NCIP officials divided the community’s stand regarding the destructive project.

“They pushed through with the signing of the MOA despite our petition paper filed earlier. We were even present during the MOA signing and we registered our ‘NO’ position but they went on (MOA signing). Do they really want us (affected residents) to fight among ourselves?” he stressed.

Juanito Baguingan, a respected elder in Balbalan, said that the MOA NCIP-Kalinga presented should not be honored because it does not reflect the position of the majority of residents in Balbalan.

Baguingan added that 22 signatories in the said MOA are not legitimate elders and representative of the Buaya tribe. He said some of them are not residing in Balbalan.

Dominique Cawas from NCIP-Kalinga refused to answer the accusations thrown at him. He maintained that the dialogue is not the proper venue to settle the issue regarding the MOA. He said it should be done in the affected communities and not at the NCIP regional office.

Cawas, however, admitted he knew of the petition. “Let’s wait for the decision (regarding the petition) at the hearing office,” he said.

FPIC Coordinator Albert Olcim maintained that according to field reports from NCIP-Kalinga the FPIC process went well and that majority of affected residents gave their concent. He also said that he is not in the position to take actions on the issue at hand.

However, Maria Galong from Conner stressed that they went to the NCIP regional office to verify the status of CEXCI’s application and to validate if their position is being considered. She said she was disappointed to hear from NCIP officials that they cannot do anything.

Galong added that CEXCI is already starting its exploration in Conner because they have seen equipment coming in and bunk houses being built.

Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA) Chairperson Joan Carling stressed that they will report the incident to concerned NCIP officials. She criticized Cawas and Olcim’s attitude, inaction and their being unprepared for the dialog.

The said Conner and Balbalan folk wanted a dialogue with NCIP Regional Director Leilene Marie C. Gallardo to protest against the MOA presented by NCIP-Kalinga. However, Gallardo was not in the scheduled dialogue. In her absence, Gallardo asked Olcim and Cawas to take over.

Earlier on December 8, the same group of affected residents had a dialogue with Engr. Alfredo Genetiano of the Mines and Geo-sciences Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (MGB-DENR) in behalf of Dir. Neoman dela Cruz.

Genetiano assured the residents that MGB-DENR has not issued any permit to CEXCI yet and noted the group’s petition and position. # Kim Quitasol for NORDIS

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