The Tumandok nga Mangunguma nga Nagapangapin sa Duta kag Kabuhi, Inc. (Tumanduk, Inc.) belies the statement of the National Irrigation Authority’s claiming that that indigenous peoples (IPs) are now receptive and have pledged support to the Jalaur River dam project in Calinog town.

The group said that the recent statement of NIA through supervising institutional development officer, Ruth Cely Jamelo claiming that the IPs in the 10 mountainous villages of Calinog are knowledgeable about JRMP II is a big lie. 

Roger Diaz, Tumanduk council member and an elder of Brgy. Masaroy, Calinog said the information disseminated by NIA is one-sided, promoting only the benefits but not the danger and adverse impacts of the dam project, added Diaz.

Tumandoks oppose the dam-project in five barangays of Calinog - Garangan, Masaroy, Agcalaga, Cahigon, and Alibunan.

The group stated that the minutes of the meeting made by the NIA and National Commission for Indigenous People at Brgy. Agcalaga, Calinog last February 3 showed that when questions concerning the adverse effects of the project were raised, NIA personnel brushed them aside and diverted the discussion into other matters.

“Jamelo may be referring to the Memorandum of Agreement only signed by the indigenous elders allowing the conduct of feasibility study and data gathering after the FPIC (Free Prior and Informed Consent) for the dam project. We did not agree on starting the construction of the project,” Diaz stressed.

The group said that the proposed mega-dam project in Jalaur River will displace more or less 17,000 indigenous peoples upstream of the project and tens of thousands more downstream. 

The group also believe that the project lies within the active West Panay Fault line which caused the worst earthquake disaster in Panay in 1948 that destroyed more than 50 churches.*