NCIP returns to Mankayan
-A A +AThursday, January 31, 2013
LA TRINIDAD, Benguet –- National Commission of Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) regional director Sancho Buquing is gearing for the resumption of the Free and Prior Informed Consent (FPIC) process in Mankayan town.
Buquing said the NCIP is set to meet this week and is keen to resume talks with indigenous peoples groups.
FPIC talks halted when safety of officers stationed in Mankyan town was compromised.
Buquing said he hopes the impasse with various groups will not hamper talks any longer.
He said talks for the FPIC process are to be the first in the town being conducted to decide the fate of Far Southeast Gold Resources Inc. (FSGRI), the newest investor of Lepanto Consolidated Mining Corporation were halted because of misunderstandings between groups.
Buquing added that those who are involved in the process should be the ones deciding and not anyone else.
The eight impact areas are barangays Tabio, Bulalacao, Sapid, Poblacion, Suyoc, Paco, Colalo and Cabiten.
Buquing said it is not about the lefts and rightist groups anymore. “It is about how people in Mankayan will treat this.”
The NCIP is set to have planning sessions this week and will decide on when the talks will resume.
Published in the Sun.Star Baguio newspaper on January 31, 2013.
Local news
Forum rules: Do not use obscenity. Some words have been banned. Stick to the topic. Do not veer away from the discussion. Be coherent and respectful. Do not shout or use CAPITAL LETTERS!
