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First Posted on Inside Mindanao (www.insidemindanao.com) on October 16, 2009

Tribes in Bukidnon & Cotabato file opposition
to proposed biggest Mindanao hydro–dam
By Ellen Red

Menovu–Pulangiyen and Menovu–Dunnguanen, the indigenous peoples in the towns of Damulog, Kibawe, Dangcagan, Kitaotao, all in the province of Bukidnon; and Pres. Roxas, North Cotabato, have filed their opposition to the proposed biggest Mindanao hydro-dam, the Pulangi V Hydro–Electric Project.

Legal Rights and Natural Resources Center–Kasama Sa Kalikasan⁄ Friends of the Earth of the Philippines (LRC–KsK⁄FoE) reported that 4,000 Menovu–Pulangiyen and Menovu–Dunnguanen manifested their objection to the proposed biggest Mindanao hydro–dam.

The Department of Energy (DOE) Central office in Taguig City, Metro Manila officially received today the indigenous peoples' opposition, LRC–KsK⁄FoE reported.

According to the DOE, the Pulangi V Hydro–Electric Project is set to be the biggest hydro-dam in Mindanao. This hydro–dam is expected to generate at least 300 megawatts of power. The government agency is set to commence the hydro–dam project next year.

The opposition filed before the DOE rests on the simple premise that the planned hydro–electric project will submerge the entire ancestral domain of the Menovu–Pulangiyen and Menovu–Dunnguanen. The project will submerge 22 barangays and 7 towns in Bukidnon and Cotabato provinces.

"The project will gravely impact and alienate our cultural rights over our ancestral lands and territories," said Bhobong Ampuan, chairman of NATABUKFed, a federation of southern Menovu tribe in Bukidnon.

Victor Bantao, tribal chieftain of Mikasili, Damulog, Bukidnon, said: "We put equal emphasis to the fact that the Philippine Government is a signatory, has ratified, and therefore, has acceded to the provision of the United Declaration on the Rights of the Indigenous peoples ( (UNDRIP) and United Nations Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (UNCERD) to respect and protect our rights to determine and decide our priorities for development. We believe that the construction and development of the said Pulangi V dam project violates the fundamental rights granted to us by law and international convention."

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