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Backgrounder of Land Issue in Pantabangan, Nueva Ecija

4/8/2011

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May 1966 – Philippine congress enacted the Republic Act 5499 or Upper Pampanga River Project that authorized the construction of the Pantabangan Multi-Purpose Dam

June 11, 1971 – August 1974 – The Marcos regime constructed Pantabangan Multi-Purpose Dam and Hydro-electric Power Plant producing 112 MW of power  and irrigates about 77,000-hectares of agricultural lands being the second biggest dam in Asia.  It was operated by National Power Corp. (NAPOCOR) and National Irrigation Administration (NIA).  About 8,100-hectares of productive lands were submerged and communities or 9 barangays were totally wiped out including the town proper of Pantabangan.  Locals were forced to migrate to nearby mountains.

July 10, 1987 – The Cory Aquino government approved the entry of private corporations to the power industry.

July 16, 1990 – onwards – Igorot people from earthquake-hit Cordillera areas migrated in Pantabangan and Carranglan area, increasing the population of indigenous peoples (Igorot, Bugkalot, Aeta) in the area.

February 1996 –  The Ramos government commenced with the Casecnan Transbasin Project at Alfonso Castañeda, Nueva Vizcaya that included a 27-km tunnel from the Casecnan river in Pantabangan, Nueva Ecija to Pantabangan Lake.  The dam and hydro-electric power plant were constructed by California Energy (CalEn) under a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) scheme.  The project also covered 57,930-hectare watershed program that displaced many Bugkalot communities in Nueva Ecija and Nueva Vizcaya areas.

December 2001 – Under the Arroyo government, Casecnan Multi-Purpose Project, Hydro-Electric Power Plant were commissioned generating 140 MW of power operated by CE (CalEn) Casecnan Water and Energy Co.

May 2006 – massive militarization displaced indigenous peoples communities, causing the killing of UCCP Pastor Andy Pawican on May 21 at Brgy. Fatima, the abduction of Rogel Marcial and Miguel Paltin on May 22.

September 8, 2006 – Under the Electric Power Industry Act of 2001 (EPIRA), the Pantabangan Multi-Purpose Dam and Hydro-electric Plant was privatized and rewarded to a Lopez-controlled First Gen Hydro Power Corp.

October 15, 2008 – Lopez-controlled Energy Development Corp. (EDC) bought 60% of Pantabangan Multi-Purpose Dam/Hydro-Electric Power Plant from First Gen

January to February 2009 – massive militarization was implemented in the area, causing mass evacuation, hamletting and human rights abuses

November 2009 – EDC covered 50-hectares of land in Brgy. Villarica as part of their watershed and reforestation program.  They are also targeting another 50-hectares where Sitio Maluyon is located, forcing the Igorot community of 34 households to abandon their farms.  As they are also victims of military harassment, they transferred their houses to nearby areas but continued to till the lands EDC is targeting.  Ernesto Bubod was the only one who did not vacate his house and farm.

2010 – EDC and NIA formed the pseudo-cooperative Maluyon Indigenous Christian Farmers Association (MICFA) that promised job opportunities to the Igorot farmers who left their houses and lands, but were paid P150 per day of work on the plantation on an irregular basis.  Militarization also continued at their area.

January to March 2011 – EDC and NIA continue to deceive the Igorot farmers to leave the lands.

March 22 – Ernesto Bubod was arrested by elements of the Charlie Company of the 81st Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army (IBPA).  Originally accused of arson but filed with illegal possession of firearms. 

March 2011 –  EDC and NIA approached the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) to approve the one-sided Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Igorot farmers, that the latter rejected.

Compiled by
Alyansa ng mga Magbubukid sa Gitnang Luson (AMGL)
and AMGL – Nueva Ecija (AMGL – NE)

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