Villagers in Dalicno-Ampucao (Itogon) file an appeal to NCIP, MGB to guarantee their ancestral rights and properties.
(Top left photo) Dr. Eric Andal, Acting Resident Manager of Apex acquired Itogon-Suyoc Resources, Inc. (ISRI) clarifies mining issues regarding their company’s APSA 103 application. (Below left Photo) Indigenous Peoples groups from Dalicno-Ampucao (Itogon) huddle to defend their ancestral rights and properties. Photo by: Primo Agatep
(Below right photo) APSA 103- Dalicno-Ampucao villagers meet to discuss mining issues. (Contributed Photo)
ITOGON, Benguet– Villagers of Dalicno-Ampucao in this mining town filed an appeal to the Cordillera regional offices of the National Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP) and MInes Geosciences Bureau (MGB) in relation to certification pre-condition application on the proposed APSA 103 by Apex acquired Itogon-Suyoc Resources, Inc. (ISRI),
Based on the obtained data, the indigenous cultural communities and indigenous peoples of Dalicno and Ampucao within the Ancestral Domain of Itogon– appealed to both government offices (NCIP/MGB) – to expunge from records the endorsed APSA 103 indicative and re-endorse new indicative map reflecting those identified in the Free Prior Informed Consent-Memorandum of Agreement (FPIC-MOA) as ‘no mining zones’, particularly residential houses and water resources situated in Dalicno, Ampucao, are indeed outside and/or beyond the coverage of the APSA 103 project area.
‘Only by expunging the earlier indicative map and by replacing the same with a new map, complete with re-endorsement from MGB to NCIP, showing that the properties of the undersigns are outside the APSA 103 project area, that the ICCs/IPs of Dalicno, Ampucao can feel a semblance of security over their person and properties.
On September 20 (2023), despite major lapses of the FPIC Team to religiously adhere to Sections 22 and 34 of the FPIC guidelines or NCIP Administrative Order 3 S 2012, an FPIC MOA, for reasons only known to the FPIC Team, was signed, states in the letter of appeal received on Oct 9 (2023) by NCIP-CAR/MGB-CAR.
The NCIP-Central Office, Benguet Provincial Office, and Itogon Indigenous Cultural Communities Office.
The villagers claimed they were not aware of any conduct of two community assemblies as mandated by NCIP, and did not receive any notices.
‘Given the substantial social, cultural, and environmental implications of this significant, the proponent, FPIC Team, and the Council of Elders should have involved experts to provide insights into the project’s impacts, considering both advantages and disadvantages.’
Furthermore, NGOs and relevant government agencies should have been invited to share their perspective and input regarding the project.
‘Only through such inclusive engagement can we attain a truly informed consent of the indigenous community.’
‘What happened was only the appointed Council of Elders made a unilateral decision to favorably endorse APSA 103 to the FPIC Team. This action initiated the negotiation stage between them and the applicant, ISRI. This process clearly contravened the established procedure outlined in Section 22 of NCIP Order No/. 3 Series of 2012.
The Dalicno community also claimed ‘there was no validation assembly conducted.
The APSA 103 covers an area of 581 hectares overlapping the ancestral domain of Itogon specifically portions of Barangays Ampucao, Poblacion, and Virac. Primo Aurelio Agatep
