NIA, BUGKALOT DISPUTE NOW SETTLED
NIA Central Office – At last, after several dialogues and negotiations with the Bugkalot Indigenous Cultural Community/Indigenous Peoples (ICC/IPs) affected by the Casecnan Multipurpose Irrigation and Power Project (CMIPP) in the Provinces of Nueva Ecija and Nueva Vizcaya, the decades-long lingering issue involving the Bugkalots and the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) has finally ended.
Under the leadership of Acting Administrator Engr. Eduardo Eddie G. Guillen, the Bugkalot Indigenous Cultural Community/Indigenous Peoples voluntarily opened the barricades to the CMIPP in Barangay Pelaway, Alfonso Castañeda, Nueva Vizcaya on February 13, 2023 after the successful negotiation among the Bugkalot Ancestral Domain Environmental Management Council (BADEMC), Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corporation (PSALM), and the NIA, with the assistance of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP).
Prior to this, the impacted Bugkalots received the advance payment of Disturbance Fee from the NIA and PSALM pursuant to the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for Corporate Social Responsibility. This is part of the NIA and the Bugkalot IPs agreements to finally settle concerns and requests over the operation of the CMIPP situated within their ancestral domain. Continuing coordination between the NIA and the BADEMC is ongoing to ensure resolution to all issues surrounding the Bugkalots and CMIPP.
“Ang buong Bugkalot ay nagpapaabot ng isang marubdob na pasasalamat sa ating mahal na Pangulo Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos na pag-upo sa Malacañang, binigyan agad ng direktiba ang NIA, PSALM at NCIP para i-ayos ang gusot dito sa ating lugar na Casecnan. Hindi po tumagal, hindi po umabot ng isang taon na panunungkulan, tayo pong mga Bugkalot ay pinatawag at binigyang-pansin ng ahensiya ng National Irrigation Administration at ng PSALM. Napansin po ang ating hinaing. Kami po ay nagpapasalamat ng sobra-sobra at umaapaw sa mga nakikita po naming programa ng gobyerno na nagbigay sa amin ng muling pag-asa para ang aming mga matagal nang inaasahan at nagkaroon ng kaliwanagan,” BADEMC Chairman Daniel P. Pasigian said.
As the Agency ensures the protection of dam integrity for public safety and unhampered delivery of irrigation service, the NIA, headed by Acting Administrator Eddie G. Guillen, makes sure that the welfare of indigenous cultural communities and indigenous peoples is also a priority.
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For inquiries and/or clarifications, you may contact:
EDEN VICTORIA C. SELVA
Department Manager A
NIA Public Affairs and Information Staff
Email: pais@nia.gov.ph
Landline: (02) 8921-3741
Bugkalot Indigenous Cultural Community/Indigenous Peoples in a gathering after the opening of the Guest House of the Casecnan Multipurpose Irrigation and Power Project (CMIPP)
Photo Courtesy: Pelayo Pasigian
Opening of the Guest House of the Casecnan Multipurpose Irrigation and Power Project (CMIPP)
Photo Courtesy: Thomo Kidatan
Opening of the Guest House of the Casecnan Multipurpose Irrigation and Power Project (CMIPP)
Photo Courtesy: Thomo Kidatan
Members of the Bugkalot ICC/IPs during the opening of the Guest House of the Casecnan Multipurpose Irrigation and Power Project (CMIPP)
Photo Courtesy: JackieLou Gonzales Vallega Pasigian
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