Wednesday, March 05, 2008 Displaced Ibalois seek return of Binga lands By Jane Cadalig
DISPLACED Ibalois from Binga, Itogon are asking the Benguet Provincial Board (PB) to help them regain their lands, which they said were taken from them with the construction of the Binga Hydro Power Plant.
The indigenous peoples (IPs) asked the PB to extend whatever help it can so they can reclaim the lands they owned before the National Power Corporation (Napocor) took over the Binga Dam in the early 1950s.
Morr Pungayan, a descendant of one of the displaced families, said the distressing experience his parents felt when Napocor bulldozed their lands to give way for the construction of the Binga Dam, is still felt by the present generation.
Pungayan belongs to the Pedro Lampitao clan, whom he said owned more than half of the 2.5 hectares rice fields, which were submerged by the dam.
Pungayan said his forefather was the holder of the land title since 1936, years before Napocor took over the dam.
With the impending take over of the SN Aboitiz Power of the Binga Dam, Pungayan urged the PB to heed their call to reclaim their properties.
"We can't do anything as private citizens. It is through you that our calls will be able to reach those who are in power. Napocor has been deaf to us for 51 years, and so will Aboitiz. They will not believe us," he told the PB. Pungayan was with the other descendants of the displaced families last Tuesday to air their grievances before the provincial legislative body.
Aboitiz is the winning bidder of the Binga and Ambuklao dams. Bidding of these power plants is part of the privatization of Napocor, who once managed these facilities.
Pungayan said the recovery of their properties would bring back the displaced Ibaloi's sense of pride.
"We beg you to listen. Give us the chance to redeem ourselves, to lick the wounds in our hearts and recover and rise to the levels of other human beings. We have suffered long overdue beyond what others can perhaps endure. Give us back the lands of our grandparents and great grandparents," he said.
