Friday, October 05, 2007 City can resolve tiff with Asin claimants: official
THE resolution of the conflict between the Baguio City Government and ancestral land claimants affected by the Asin Hydro operations lies in the city.
National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) Regional Director Amador Batay-an said the resolution of the tiff would depend on the decision of the City Government.
Since last year, ancestral land claimants from Tadiangan and Nangalisan in Tuba have been demanding a just compensation of the properties affected by the operations of Asin hydros.
These demands include payment of damaged ancestral lands which are traversed by the water pipelines leading to the city-owned power plants.
While the city recognizes the ancestral claims, it has been confused by different demands from several claimants.
These claims started when Hedcor Inc. turned over the management of the Asin Hydros to the city last year.
Earlier dialogues conducted between city representatives and the claimants did not bear positive results.
The claimants sought the intervention of the NCIP on the matter, citing their rights under the Indigenous Peoples Rights Law.
Batay-an said a dialogue between the city and ancestral land claimants will be held next week. (JC)
