Indigenous Peoples and Economic Development: Jalaur Dam Project

Issues and Concerns

• The construction of the Jalaur Dam Project in Iloilo would displace around 17,000 Indigenous Peoples (IPs) or approximately 600 households living in the affected areas.

Environmental Concerns

• The project would cause damage to the environment.

Consent Issues

• In February 2015, 16 affected IP barangays reportedly gave their consent in favor of the dam's construction.
• However, 38 individuals issued a resolution of non-consent, which was deemed unrepresentative of the Panay-Bukidnon people by the chair of Hugpong Pumuluyo Para sa Kalinungan kag Kauswagan.

Project Overview

Jalaur Dam Project

• The project's benefits include year-round irrigation, bulk water supply, hydroelectric power, and eco-tourism.
• The project involves the construction of three dams in Calinog, Iloilo:
  • 109-meter Jalaur High Dam
  • 38.5-meter Afterbay Dam
  • 10-meter Alibutan Catch Dam
• The project also includes an 80.74-kilometer high line canal traversing nine towns in Iloilo.

Components

• Irrigation Development Component:
  • Involves the construction of dams and a high line canal
• Environmental and Watershed Management Component:
  • Aims to protect and preserve forests to ensure water supply for the project
• Institutional Development Component:
  • Aims to organize Irrigators' Associations (IAs) in new irrigated areas
• Free and Prior Informed Consent (FPIC) Component:
  • Securing consent from affected indigenous peoples, particularly the Tumandok people

Tumandok People

• The Tumandok people are predominantly peasants who practice kaingin (slash and burn) farming.
• They find the term "Bukidnon" or "Buki" derogatory, meaning "ignorant mountain people."

Globalization and Agriculture

Medium-Term Philippine Development Plan (MTPDP)

• Fostered an export-oriented, import-dependent, and debt-driven economy
• Encouraged foreign investments in mining, agriculture, services, and other strategic areas

Impact of Globalization on Agriculture

• Led to the decline of small-scale firms and farms
• Reasons for decline:
  • Persistence of landlordism
  • Poor implementation of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP)
  • Land use conversions to escape CARP
  • Crop conversions due to global market demands
  • Exploitative practices of landlords-usurers-merchants
• Direct impacts:
  • Loss of livelihood
  • Loss of land, leading to massive migration to urban areas
  • Food insecurity

Impact on Indigenous Women

• Majority of indigenous women are owner-tillers engaged in subsistence food production.