Indigenous peoples want to repossess their lands
[ Manila Bulletin Online ] January 8, 2009
ITOGON, Benguet — Ancestral-land claimants in several barangays here have requested the intervention of the Cordillera office of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) in their bid to re-possess their lands which the national government took from them several years to pave the way for the construction of two hydropower plants.
The indigenous peoples asked NCIP’s assistance in the conduct of a survey and delineation of the ancestral lands they are claiming back from the National Power Corp. (Napocor).
Aside from the survey of their ancestral and burial grounds at a village near Binga Dam, they are also asking that their lots in other parts of the village be included in the survey that would ascertain the metes and bounds of their properties.
The claimants said they would be eternally grateful if in the survey and delineation, the team to be tasked by the NCIP includes their lands in the village and adjacent areas where most of their properties are located.
They said they want the issues relative to their unpaid claims settled the indigenous way, claiming that Napocor executives have virtually shut the door on them in their bid to seek compensation for their unpaid ancestral lands.
Once the survey of their old burial grounds is completed, the claimants said the remains of their ancestors will be brought back to the grave site near Binga Dam.
The ancestors of the unpaid claimants belong to three different tribes — the Ibaloi, Karao, and Lowak, all inhabitants of the southern parts of the province.
Earlier, unpaid ancestral-land claimants revived their claims over their properties after Napocor turned over the management and operation of the Binga hydroelectric plant to the winning bidder in privatization process, SN Aboitiz Power Corp.
However, Napocor executives said the revived claims of the indigenous peoples in Binga were paid by the previous management of the company. There is no truth that the national government forcibly took their lands for the operation of the power plant in the 1950s, they said.
They also said there are pertinent documents that the claims being raised by the indigenous peoples were settled before the dam started operations.
It is unfair for the claimants to accuse the government, particularly Napocor, of forcibly taking their lands from them.
The provincial board had earlier volunteered to conduct an investigation which would determine if the indigenous peoples of Itogon were properly compensated by the government before the power plant started operation.
But the board has yet to come out with its findings, noting the absence of reliable sources that could guarantee the authenticity of documents relative to their claims and the counter-claims of Napocor.
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