What happened?
As of the moment, the Dumagat-Remontado tribe living in Sierra Madre are currently facing risks of becoming dislocated from their current homes due to multiple environmental and economical threats.
Environmental threats
The Dumagat-Remontado tribe currently reside in the forests and lands of Sierra Madre, near the Tanay river. These rivers irrigate their land and help them live independently from technological resources. Unfortunately, being off the grid has also enabled them to become more susceptible to the various effects of climate change and global warming.
Because the Dumagat live near rivers, they are highly affected by extreme floods during harsh rainy weather. These conditions worsen when harsh rains come by consecutively and unpredictably as it gives them less time to recover from the previous disasters.
“It left us so traumatized that, to this day, even a little rain can make us anxious,” said Margie Amuin, 32, a public school teacher living around the same area. She also stated that such disasters can be attributed to the deforestation and environmental damage inflicted upon their homelands, which increase the likelihood of extreme floods and landslides.
Infrastructural threats
The Dumagat are also facing threats against their homelands due to the pending wave of infrastructure that will soon be built on their lands. One of these projects is the Kaliwa Dam, a P12.2-billion project under the “Build, Build, Build” program of the Duterte administration. This dam aims to provide approximately 600-million liters of water to Metro Manila and other surrounding areas once built.
For the government to secure a permit to build on ancestral lands, they would have to first secure a certificate of free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) from the title-holders of the land. Sadly, despite the opposing statements of the tribal communities and different environmental groups, the project was able to receive a clearance from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
Castro, one of the anthropologists for the project, chose not to endorse it because the project failed to receive the social acceptance from those residing in the land. According to petition letters he received from members of the tribal community, the construction would also destroy some of their sacred sites (e.g. Tinipak Cave and Tinipak River) where rituals and shrines are held.
The current status
As of the moment, the Dumagat-Remontado tribe are very worried about the future of their tribal lands as this could endanger their future descendants. According to conservationist group Haribon, about 126 animal species reside in Sierra Madre, including the endangered Philippine Eagle. Furthermore, at least 300 hectares of forested area is expected to be permanently flooded.
The CHR stated in November 2019 that due to the drastic effects that the Kaliwa Dam could have on the future of the Dumagat-Remontado tribe, they should be fully entitled to receive all information about the project, as well as have complete consent to negotiate or object to the project.
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