NATIONAL Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) regional director Ronald Calde said the ongoing Chico River Waterpump Irrigation Project (CRWIP) in Pinukpuk, Kalinga was halted after the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) agreed to suspend work.
Calde, through a letter said “NIA will issue directive to the contractor to limit construction in Kalinga areas except maintenance and subsidiary works in the pump storage to avoid unnecessary damage.”
The P4.37-billion CRWIP, the first flagship infrastructure project to be financed by China under President Duterte’s “Build, Build, Build” program, has already started despite lacking the Certificate of Precondition.
“As per discussion with them, they will move all their construction and earthmoving activities to Cagayan areas except security and maintenance of facilities, pending the issuance of Certificate Precondition,” Calde said.
The Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA) earlier stressed the NIA Region 2 violated the FPIC of the affected communities in the Chico River Pump Irrigation Project.
Calde explained the response to NIA is acceptable as long as they keep true to their word and comply “Our FPIC process only covers Kalinga. Any activity they had over Cagayan areas is out of our jurisdiction being non ancestral domain areas,” Calde said.
Developments came after a letter was sent to the NIA regional irrigation manager for Region 2, Antonio Lara to hold in abeyance or temporarily suspend activities taking place therein while the office conducts its mandatory review and evaluation to cause the issuance of a Certificate of Precondition.
“As per their letter, they will issue directive to the contractor to limit construction in Kalinga areas except maintenance and subsidiary works in the pump storage to avoid unnecessary damage. And as per discussion with them they will move all their construction and earthmoving activities to Cagayan areas except security and maintenance of facilities, pending the issuance of Certificate Precondition,” Calde added.
Calde said the NCIP en banc is set to meet next week and hopefully to decide on the matter.