The Committee on Indigenous Cultural Communities and Indigenous Peoples began its inquiry Tuesday — based on House Resolution 309 — into the New Centennial Water Source-Kaliwa Dam Project (NCWS-KDP) and its alleged anomalous award to the China Energy Engineering Co. Limited. It was filed by Rep. Juan Fidel Felipe Nograles (2nd District, Rizal).
At the onset, Committee Chairman Rep. Allen Jesse Mangaoang (Lone District, Kalinga) raised that the primary concern of the inquiry was how the project would compensate for the expected displacement of Dumagat and Remontado tribes. He then assured that the legislators would closely monitor and scrutinize the memorandum of agreement concurred by parties involved, to ensure equitable royalties for the indigenous communities.
As the discussions progressed, Agta-Dumagat leader Marcelino Tena, along with other members of the tribes, confirmed that the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) failed to adhere to the free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) guidelines. The FPIC protects the right of IPs to self-determination and to freely pursue their economic, social, and cultural development. Meanwhile, HR 309 provides that the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has not released the Environmental Compliance Certificate for the project due to lack of documentation requirements, including the FPIC.
The committee will convene again to further discuss the alleged violations of the China Energy Engineering Co. Limited as well as help address the plights of affected communities.
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