NIA Central Office, Quezon City - "We must solve it as quick as possible" were paramount words of Dr. Florencio F. Padernal, NIA Administrator during the interagency meeting held at 3rd Floor NIA Board Room on January 7, 2016. Delegates from various government agencies including Department of Finance (DOF), Office of the Presidential Assistant for Food Security and Agricultural Modernization (OPAFSAM), National Water Resources Board (NWRB), and National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) actively participated in discussing and analyzing every possible solution to properly address the concerns and issues of the Bugkalot Tribe.
The meeting started as Atty. Genever Dionio, Manager, Legal Services Department, resonated the gist of the recent dialogue between NIA Top Management Officials and the Bugkalot Tribe, led by Nagtipunan, Quirino Mayor and Bugkalot Chieftain Rosario Camma last December 9, 2015. Emphasis were given on the two fundamental issues raised by the tribesmen, (1) tribes's percentage claim on the profit of CalEnergy operations, and (2) the release of the 10% environmental flow pursuant to NWRB Resolution No. 01-0901. While the Bugkalot Tribe remains firm with their assertion on profit sharing and the release of the 10% environmental flow under the IPRA Law, CalEnergy is still in the legal process of questionaning the constitutionality of certain provisions of the said law.
Legal Services Department Manager Atty. Genever Dionio discussing the recent talk with the Bugkalot Tribe among his colleagues while (C) NIA Administrator Dr. Florencio P. Padernal and (R) NIA Deputy Administrator for Administrative and Finance Ms. Estrella E. Icasiano listens and take down notes during the interagency meeting held at NIA Board Room on January 7, 2016
A four-page document was presented by Engr. Alexander G. Coloma, NIA-CMIPP Project Manager, stating the action plans and recommendations gathered from the previous meeting with the Bugkalot Tribe. Taking into consideration the purpose for which the hydroelectric power plant was constructed, its capacity, and the possible implications on the water release, Atty. Dionio kept reiterating that the technical and legal aspects of the demands of Bugkalot Tribe play vital roles in attaining solid solutions on the problem. Executive Director Sevillo David Jr. of the NWRB seconded, saying that the request of immediate release of the 10% environmental flow should take time because of the possible structural modifications vis-a-vis existing structure, to divert the water flow. Other issues, including the alleged extinction of endemic fish in the area called "Ludong", and CalEnergy's Corporate Social Responsibility effort towards the Bugkalot Tribe, were also discussed during the meeting.
Finally, Atty. Ma. Jazmin Banal, OPAFSAM Undersecretary, summed up other points that must be included in the next meeting such as benefits continuously being given to the Bugkalot Tribe, design and modification structure to address the water release, and presentation of a chronology of events, from beginning to its current status. NIA is firm with its position that the agency can only act as a facilitator in achieving a mutually beneficial agreement for both CASECNAN and the Bugkalot Tribe.
(From L-R) Undersecretary Atty. Ma. Jazmin Banal, NWRB Executive Director Dr. Sevillo David Jr., and NWRB Engineer III Pacita F. Barba listens enthusiastically during the interagency meeting held at NIA Board Room on January 7, 2016.
Department of Finance Financial Analyst Ms. Tanya T. Teves exchanging views with NIA Legal Services Department Manager Atty. Genever Dionio during the interagency meeting held at NIA Board Room on January 7, 2016. Paying attention with the discussion are (From L-R) CMIPP Project Manager Engr. Alexander G. Coloma, NIA PAIS Manager Ms. Pilipina P. Bermudez, DOF PRIVA PM III Jose Ilano, NCIP ADO Director Jonathan D. Adaci, NIA Administrator Dr. Florencio F. Padernal, and NIA Deputy Administrator for Administrative and Finance Ms. Estrella E. Icasiano
