National Irrigation Administrator Dr. Florencio Padernal responds to the concerns raised by the Bugkalot Tribe in a dialogue held at IEC Bldg. NIA office on December 9, 2015. Also present in the dialogue are (From L-R) CMIPP Project Manager Alexander Coloma, Deputy Administrator for Administrative and Finance Ms. Estrella E. Icasiano, and Department Manager of NIA Legal Services Atty. Genever M. Dionio
NIA Central Office, Quezon City - National Irrigation Administration held a dialogue with members of the Bugkalot tribe headed by Nagtipunan, Quirino Mayor and Bugkalot Chieftain Mayor Rosario Camma to talk amid concerns of their group as they peacefully assemble in front of the central office on December 9, 2015.
Dialogues went well as the two parties mutually agreed to set an interagency meeting first thing next month to have sufficient lead time. Issues from previous meeting was raised by the tribe, led by Mayor Camma regarding their percentage share from the operations of CalEnergy Power Plant and the 10% dependable flow of water from the dam to their community.
NIA Legal Services Department Manager Attorney Genever Dionio said that the agency is trying its best to deliver the sentiments of Bugkalot tribe to the right parties. "Inuulit ko dalawang beses na ho kaming nagsabi sa dalawang secretaries na kahit na may mga usaping legal ito pwede ho ba na wala naman pong masama kung hanapan ng win-win solutions para naman ho mapagbigyan ang kahilingan ng ating mga kaibigang Bugkalot." He restates that previous efforts include sending letters addressed to Secretary Proceso Alcala of Department of Agriculture (DA) and Former Secretary Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan under Presidential Assistant for Food Security and Agricultural Modernization (PAFSAM) asking to bring up the issues on cabinet level and act on the matter immediately. Attorney Diono added that there are legal and technical interferences in solving the matters both in the part of Bugkalot tribe and CalEnergy.
Accordingly, NIA Administrator Dr. Florencio Padernal reiterates the resolution made during the previous meeting with the tribe which is to set an appointment with Department of Finance and other concern agencies like National Water Resources Board (NWRB) and National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) to resolve the issues and come up with arrangements as regard to tribe's claim. Padernal also added that NIA is just the implementing body of irrigation sites but the stipulations regarding the contract made a decade ago is outside agency's grasp. The administrator also requests the members of Bugkalot tribe to prepare an agenda with their corresponding desired actions which will be attached in the letter to be sent to concern agencies for the preparation of the upcoming interagency meeting.
(2nd from L) Nagtipunan, Quirino Mayor and Bugkalot Over-All Chieftain Mayor Rosario Camma led some members of the Bugkalot Tribe during the dialogue with NIA.
