MWSS says it got IPs' nod for Kaliwa dam; priest says they were manipulated

The Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) said construction on the Kaliwa Dam would push through after it secured the nods of the indigenous peoples (IPs) communities in General Nakar in Quezon and Tanay, Rizal.

A supporter of the Dumagat indigenous people, however, said that IPs were manipulated into consenting to the project.

In Raffy Tima’s report on “24 Oras,” the MWSS said it was also able to get a certification of precondition from the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP).

The groups initially opposed the project but later agreed after they were told of the resettlement, priority in the employment for the Kaliwa Dam construction, and the protection of parts of the ancestral domain, the MWSS said.

“Nire-review po kasi ito ng NCIP kung lahat po ba ng guidelines base sa IPRA (Indigenous Peoples Rights Act) Law ay nasusunod. So, itong certificate na ito, ito po 'yung patunay na sinunod namin lahat ng guidelines ng IPRA Law at 'yung mga IPs po ay pumayag na sa project,” said Kaliwa Dam Project Manager Engr. Ryan Ayson.

“’Yung libingan po, gumawa po tayo ng paraan o engineering intervention sa ating design para maiwasan natin 'yung paggalaw doon sa libingan. 'Yung sa Tinibok naman po, mayroon po tayong disturbance compensation sa kanila at assistance po, kasi ginagamit po nila ito for tourism eh,” he added.

However, Father Peter Montalla, a priest who supported the Dumagats, presented a video showing the leaders of the IP groups rebuffing the claims that they agreed to the China-funded project.

“Sa pamayanan po namin ay wala pang pumapayag. Noong pumunta doon ang NCIP at MWSS, ang sabi po nila sila ay maglilista lamang ng mga tanim ng mga tao,” said Baykoran elder Gloria Buendicho in Montalla’s video.

Her remarks were echoed by Makidata elder Silvino Ostyobesta.

“Ako po talaga sa pasimula pa lamang, nagpupunta doon ang MWSS, sinasabi ko na na ayaw ko sa dam,” Ostyobesta said.

Montalla said the IP leaders were manipulated.

“Ang mga Dumagat community diyan sa Nakar ay marami, 36 sila. So, what the NICP did was to group them into six para hindi maging mahirap 'yung kanilang pagdedesisyon. Clinuster. Out of the 6 clusters, 5 ang no, 1 lang ang yes doon sa dam and the NICP knows that,” he said.

Montalla added that the IP groups understand the need for a water source in Metro Manila but added there are other alternatives apart from destroying the ancestral domain.

“Maraming mga other alternative to water para sa Maynila pero hinid nila ginagawa kasi it's not good for business,” he added.

GMA News reached out to the NCIP for its comment but it has yet to respond as of press time. — Sundy Locus/DVM/LDF, GMA Integrated News