IP groups call for genuine environmental reforms

Indigenous people rights' groups KATRIBU and Kalumaran together with environmental organization NILAD on Saturday called for genuine environmental rehabilitation for the Philippines as the government prepares for Boracay's six-month closure.

The groups are advocating for people, patrimony, and planet over profits, politics, and personal interests.

While they are not against the Department of Environment and Natural Resources' (DENR) move to clean up Boracay, Raymond Palatino of NILAD questioned the drastic measure the government is taking, as well as its priorities.

"Ito pong closure ng Boracay, kahit ang tema niya ay rehabilitation at pangangalaga sa ating kalikasan, tandaan natin: mahigit 7,000 pa ang ating mga isla at marami sa ating mga isla may mga mining applications at may existing mining applications," Palatino told the press.

Critics of the Duterte administration found the timing of Boracay's closure suspect and accusations of catering to Chinese business owners to build a casino have been floated. The DENR has rebuffed the reports, saying that it has not received requests for permits for the project.

Displacement of IPs

Palatino and Piya Malayao of KATRIBU in an interview with GMA News Online further pointed out the lack of a "blue print" for the project and the pair called for transparency over who benefits after the six-month closure.

Malayao said that indigenous groups in Boracay have been fighting to reclaim their ancestral land for a long time and have received little attention from the government, citing the case of Ati leader Dexter Condez as proof.

Condez was shot in 2013 over a land dispute with a resort owner.

Kerlan Fanagel of Kalumaran said the situation has only worsened for indigenous peoples fighting for land under the Duterte administration.

"Kami po ay nababahala sa tuluy-tuloy na pangyayari ngayon at deklarasyon ngayon ng kasalukuyang pasistang rehimeng US-Duterte at hindi lang simpleng sinasabi naming pasista, sinasabi naming si Duterte mismo ay isang berdugo sa pamamagitan ng tuluy-tuloy na pamamahari ng teranya," Fanagel told the press.

Fanagel denounced the ongoing implementation of martial law in Mindanao. "Ito 'yong nakikita nating sistematikong pag-agaw at pandarambong ng aming lupang ninuno at pag-yurak sa karapatan naming mabuhay," he said.

"Sa ilalim ng martial law, umabot na ito (Lumad killings) sa 37...sa wala pang dalawang taon si Duterte, umabot na sa 37 na mga lumad na pinatay," he added, "At ngayon umabot na rin sa 5,000 na mga komunidad na nag-bakwit sa Mindano ... nakikikanlong sa mga kakahuyan [at] tuloy-tuloy pa ring hinahabol at minimilitarize ng Armed Force of the Philippines at mga paramilitary groups."

Malayao blasted Duterte's plans to resume the construction of two Marcos-era megadam projects — the Chico River pump irrigation project and the New Centennial River Dam project — that will destroy indigenous peoples' territories in the name of profit.

Several other projects — including dams to be built in Bukidnod, North Cotabato, Tarlac, Isabela, and Quezon — also threaten to displace some 100,000 indigenous peoples from at least 106 villages.

The Ati in Boracay

In Boracay, the Ati were awarded only two hectares of land. In 2012, it was reported that they were "living in squalor on a small plot that has also been claimed by local politicians."

According to Malayao, the Ati are currently not receiving basic services and their claim to their ancestral land is still not being respected.

"Ang mahalagang tingnan dito, do'n sa rehabilitation, sino ba talaga ang tunay na makikinabang? Ito ba ay paghahanda lamang sa pagpasok ng mas malalaki pang mga negosyante at ito ay further magdidisplace economically, culturally, at iba pa sa mga katutubong mamayan?" she said.

The Ati have long been displaced in their native island and have since been trapped in the commercialized system. "Ngayon, hindi talaga sustainable 'yon, kasi once wala na 'yang mga sinasabing investors...na-exploit na nila fully 'yang mga natural resources sa Boracay at nawala na 'yang mga turista, ano pa ang maiiwan sa mga Ati?"

Malayao stressed her doubts about the government's intentions in closing Boracay, saying, "Bakit biglang may agendang i-rehabilitate itong isla?"

"Mabuti na i-rehabilitate itong isla, pero paano nito kikilalanin 'yong kolektibong karapatan ng mga mamayan pagkatapos...at hindi dapat pabor sa interes ng mga malalaking negosyo na papasok diyan sa isla," Malayao said.

GMA News Online has reached out to DENR for a response. —ALG, GMA News