Thursday, December 17, 2009 [ sunstar.com.ph ]
LA TRINIDAD, Benguet - Benguet Federation of Ancestral Domain Indigenous Peoples Organization (Bfadipo) president advocates for temporary cessation of all Free and Prior Informed Consent (FPIC) processes to be assessed.
"We should now look at the environmental impact of all these projects," Belmer Yano of Bfadipo said.
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Yano said the provincial officials and stakeholders should sit down and talk about the needs of the province, with the incoming investments.
"We should access what we need in terms of mining, hydro and other projects affecting indigenous peoples and the environment."
Yano said mining has been in the province for 100 years since 1903 but "we should look at the impact it brought us."
Recently, the Provincial Board backed protesters in Bokod town over the legality of FPIC procedures. The Board requested the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) to suspend all talk until doubts are cleared.
Clean Rock Renewable Energy's proposal of setting up a geothermal generating plant in the area received protests.
Yano said his group is thankful for the local legislative body's decision. "We now have to monitor the compliance of the company regarding the resolution of the Board suspending all FPIC talks in Bokod," he said.
In Bakun town meanwhile, issues hounding mining firm Royalco Philippines are ongoing over exploration phases III and IV there.
Yano said in light of these protests, the province should have more weight in environmental concerns surrounding the communities involved. "If we do not do this, we will be destroying parts of the Cordillera." (Ma. Elena Catajan)
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