BY GLENDA SOLOGASTOA
ILOILO City – The indigenous peoples (IPs) of Calinog, Iloilo are “very eager” for the mega dam project to start, according to the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Region 6.
NIA will invite officials of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) and various local government units for a presentation of the project’s program of works, said Engr. Gerardo Corsiga, NIA regional manager, on “Reklamo Publiko” program yesterday.
Citing a 2012 study, Corsiga said the Jalaur River Multipurpose Project – Phase II (JRMP-II) was feasible.
The result of the study was submitted to the National Economic and Development Authority.
“The project has an economic internal rate of return of 16 percent,” said Corsiga.
JRMP-II is actually a long-delayed project. It is mandated by Republic Act 2651 way back in 1960 but due to lack of funds, it never materialized.
Corsiga assured the public that NIA will follow all processes required, including the free prior informed consent (FPIC) from IPs.
Dam construction may start in the first quarter of 2015, he added.
FPIC refers to the rights of local communities, particularly IPs, as stipulated in the Indigenous People’s Rights Act. It is required for development projects that would affect or have an impact on the IPs.
Without the FPIC, a project could not proceed.
The dam is expected to benefit farmers. It will irrigate 32,000 hectares of farmland and provide 85,000 cubic meters of water per day to Iloilo.
Just last week, Leopoldo Caballero, chairman of Gurangan, Macaroy and Agcalaga (GMA)-Indigenous Peoples in Calinog, said he is not totally opposed to the mega dam project as he wants progress for his people, too.
“Gusto man namon sang progreso nga ginatawag (We want progress),” he stressed. “Pero ginasiguro man namon nga sa progreso nga ina, indi man madehado ang amon sinakpan (But we also want to make sure our people are not shortchanged).”
According to Caballero, the NIA is now asking for their permission to conduct a second feasibility study.
“We will agree to a second feasibility study only if they have fulfilled what we are asking – road from Barangay Agcalaga to Barangay Masaroy and compensation to the owners of plants affected by the project,” he said.
The national government secured a P8.9-billion loan from South Korea to partly fund the project. Its own counterpart is P450 million./PN
