Tapaz IPS Join Strat Planning and Workshop for Panay River Basin Integrated Development Project; Governor Appeals Support
February 4, 2016 - The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Region VI facilitated a meeting with Tapaz Indigenous Peoples (IP) for the participatory strategic planning and workshop for the implementation of commitments stipulated in the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) by and between the IPs, NIA, and National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) for the conduct of Feasibility Study (FS) of the proposed Panay River Basin Integrated Development Project (PRBIDP) in the Municipality of Tapaz, Capiz.
PRBIDP features 2 dams and a highline canal with components such as flood control, drainage, irrigation, potable water supply, and hydropower generation.
26 barangays will be affected during the conduct of activities relative to the FS for PRBIDP. Out of these, 19 barangays are IP areas, thus Free Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) process must be duly conducted as mandated by Republic Act 8371 or Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA) of 1997. With this, the Strategic Planning and Workshop was conducted to validate and level off the community's demands, present the implementation plans on NIA's commitments for the FS, and discuss other issues related to the said activities.
Governor Victor A. Tanco, Sr. of the Province of Capiz appealed to the IPs to support this project as this will provide inclusive growth and development to Capiz by way of Flood Mitigation, Irrigation, Power, and Bulk Water Supply for domestic and industrial use.
