Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Macliing Dulag and the chico river dam struggle


DATELINE: April 24, 1980. the assassination of tribal leader Macliing Dulag.


Macliing Dulag is a Kalinga tribal leader of the Butbut Tribe, who was killed by Philippine Army troops in April 24, 1980 due to his firm opposition against the World Bank-funded Chico River Dam Project during the Marcos Regime. His death anniversary is now commemorated as the Cordillera Day.

 The Chico River Basin Hydroelectric Dam Project was a priority project of former President Ferdinand E. Marcos in the late 1970’s until early 1980’s. The World Bank committed to funding the project and it was to be implemented by the National Power Corporation (NPC). The venture consists of the construction of four mega dams and one smaller diversion dam along the Chico River, a major river system in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) with its headwater from Mt. Data in Benguet passing through Mountain Province to Kalinga. 

 More than 100,000 Kalingas and Bontocs were living along both sides of the Chico River at that time. In addition, the communities rely on the river for domestic purposes and for irrigation of their rice fields. As such, constructing the four mega-dams would submerge several villages and hectares of rice fields and ancestral lands, and displace thousands of people from their homes. In addition, the project was not intended to benefit the small farmers in the Cordillera region. Rather, the venture under the national irrigation program was meant to increase the productivity of lowland corporate plantations, which export majority of what they grow. 

The ethinic Kalinga and Bontoc communities, and lowlanders who sympathized with their cause, argued that national development should never be achieved at such extreme sacrifice.

"You ask if we own the land. You mock us. Where is your title? Where are the documents to prove that you own the land? Title. Documents. Proof. Such arrogance of owning land when you are owned by it. How can you own that which outlives you? Only the people own the land because only the people live forever. To claim a place is the birthright of everyone. The lowly animals claim their place, how much more of human beings. They are born to live," spoke Macliing, when asked about land titles and documents.

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