Firm says no need for more Itogon lands

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines - A ranking official of SN Aboitiz Power (Snap) assured Ambuklao and Binga land claimants it will not acquire additional lands once it takes over management and operations of the Binga and Ambuklao dams. Emmanuel Rubio, chief executive officer of SN Aboitiz, said the company is not expanding when it operates and maintain Binga Dam. This came as heirs of the displaced families are adamant in claiming their lands from the National Power Corporation (Napocor). Officials of Snap, Napocor, the Power Sector Asset and Liabilities Management Corporation (Psalm) and the Itogon Municipal Government conducted an ocular inspection on the property, which will be turned over to Snap, as well as the areas being claimed as ancestral lands. The heirs of Pedro Lampitao are among the ancestral land claimants wanting Napocor to give them lands, which will not be used when Snap takes over in exchange for those submerged by Napocor when the two dams were constructed in the 1950s and 1960s. Portions at the Marian Village and Andukutan in Barangay Andukutan are being claimed back, along with the water source at the Camodinga Creek and grave sites by members of the Lampitao clan, saying these are not used in the dam operations. Rubio said these claims are being addressed, as Napocor will be turning over 13 structures to Snap. He added that the company is willing to negotiate with land owners if the courts favor the return of the lands to claimants who have filed court cases in reacquiring their property. Four lands registered in the names of Lampitao, Wakat, Pilo and Fianza cover the areas claimed. He said the claims will not delay the turnover of Binga's operations and maintenance to Snap next month. "We are closely coordinating with Napocor for the June 25 turnover and we assure the claims are being addressed," Rubio said.- Sun.Star Baguio