MANILA – Leaders of Dumagat-Remontado indigenous groups in Rizal and Quezon provinces received Tuesday PHP160 million worth of “disturbance fees” for the construction of the PHP12.2-billion New Centennial Water Source-Kaliwa Dam Project (NCWS-KDP).
In an interview on the sidelines of turnover rites, Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) administrator Leonor Cleofas said that through the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), each indigenous people organization (IPO) of Tanay and General Nakar got PHP80 million in disturbance fees under the memorandum of agreement (MOA).
Cleofas said the NCIP will supervise the implementation of the livelihood programs and projects of these IPOs.
She added the agency has been cooperating with the local government of General Nakar in the last six years for the employment of IP communities in the preservation and protection of the watershed in the area.
During the turnover rites, Cleofas said the amount of disturbance fees are deposited in the Land Bank (Landbank) of the Philippines accounts of the IPOs.
She also expressed her elation over the turnover as this can lead to the continuation of the construction of the Kaliwa Dam.
“Sa end of 2026, ay pasisimulan na ang operation ng Kaliwa Dam at fully operational na by January 2027 (At the end of 2026, the Kaliwa Dam will start operations and it will be fully operational by January 2027),” she said.
Cleofas said the MOA provides that the 36 IP communities in General Nakar and 10 IP communities in Tanay will be entitled to PHP1 million each in financial assistance every year once the Kaliwa Dam starts full operations in 2027.
She said the MWSS is also allocating a financial aid for the resettlement of 66 families which will be affected by the construction of the project.
Of the total, 15 IP families will be indemnified for their trees and crops which maybe damaged during the construction of the Kaliwa Dam, she added. (PNA)
