Robredo, Pangilinan urged by Dumagat tribe to stop Kaliwa Dam project

ANTIPOLO, Rizal —Under threat of displacement, members of the indigenous women's group Kababaihang Dumagat ng Sierra Madre turned to Vice President Leni Robredo and running mate Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan, asking them stop the Kaliwa Dam project.

Cherrelyn San Jose and Maricel Astoveza made the appeal as Robredo and her team signed a covenant with indigenous peoples communities to protect their rights, include them in the national census and consult them on government projects, among others.

"Maam Leni, sana po mapigilan niyo iyong pagpapatuloy ng Kaliwang Dam. Kami po iyong ilulubog po roon," San Jose told GMA News Online.

"Sa Barangay Daraitan po iyon, wala pong relocation para sa amin. Kaya sana po huwag matuloy ang Kaliwa dam. Kailangan po ng tubig? Paano naman po kami? Hanggang ngayon po eh wala naman po kami relocation kaya ipinaglalaban po namin na hindi kami aalis sa lupa namin," she added.

Astoveza agreed, saying that the site of the project of their ancestral home.

"Ganun rin po [ang panawagan ko kay VP Leni], sana hindi matuloy gawa ng ipinaglalaban namin iyong lupain po namin roon," Astoveza added.

The group also asked former congressman and senatorial candidate Teddy Baguilat to intervene, who himself is a member of an IP community.

Robredo, in response, said that given the chance to be president, she will ensure that government policies will uplift the quality of life of the IPs.

"Kadalasan po, ang mga IP, nagagamit.  Iyong pinirmahan po namin, hindi lang po iyon sa papel. Ang maipapangako po namin, mararamdaman po ninyo, araw-araw na nakaupo kami sa pwesto na mahal namin kayo," Robredo said.

The P12.2-billion China-funded project will be an additional source of water for Metro Manila residents and nearby provinces amid constant threats of water shortage especially in the summer months.

The Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) earlier noted that 400 individuals from 55 barangays would be affected by construction.—LDF, GMA News