The indigenous people in the Philippines are pleading with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

to halt
the Kaliwa Dam's development indefinitely. A network of organizations made up of farmers, fishermen,
locals, and activists joins them. Hundreds of Dumagat-Remontados and their supporters walked for nine
days in February from General Nakar in Quezon province to the City of Manila to persuade Marcos to halt
the China-funded project. A month after their long trek to Metro Manila came to an end without them
having a conversation with President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. They claimed that Kaliwa Dam
would ruin their culture, harm their way of life, and submerge their ancient domain.

The only land that is available to them will be removed by the government for the construction of
a dam that will help Manila's water system, which is one of their problems. However, the indigenous
people insist that they are not being selfish and that there are alternative options. They protest and speak
out in an effort to persuade the government to halt the construction of the dam on their privately owned
land. To address the rising water demand in Manila, the Philippine government intends to construct a
dam in the Sierra Madre's forested mountains. The indigenous Dumagats' land is where the Kaliwa dam
is slated to be built, endangering the region's biodiversity as well as their sources of income, water supply,
and sacred sites. Clara Dullas, a prominent local figure, urges other Dumagats to speak out against the
dam and in favor of their legal rights, including FPIC. One of the last significant forest areas in the
Philippines with a high biodiversity is the Sierra Madre Mountain range. The region is home to a number
of indigenous tribes, including the Dumagats. This group is assisted in the area by partner organization
NTFP-EP Philippines, for instance through the planting of almaciga (Agathis philippinensis) trees and the
sustainable gathering of almaciga resin. However, the region is also near to Manila, a city that is
experiencing a water scarcity. So that the population can continue to receive water in the years to come,
the Philippine government aims to construct the Kaliwa dam.

In chapter 3 Section 5 of the Republic Act No. 8371 contained there that their property which
belongs to all generations and therefore cannot be sold, disposed or destroyed. It likewise covers
sustainable traditional resource rights. So, what happened in this issue is that the government is trying to
invade without even getting the permission of the indigenous people who live there, Kaliwa Dam will
submerge their ancestral domain, threaten their livelihoods, and destroy their culture, they said.
Section 7 right to develop, control and use lands and territories traditionally occupied, owned, or used;
to manage and conserve natural resources within the territories and uphold the responsibilities for future
generations; to benefit and share the profits from allocation and utilization of the natural resources found
therein, by the right that is proclaimed to them they have the right to protect and preserve their tradition
that is already part of the history. It is also included here that they have the right to stay in the territory
and not to be removed therefrom. No ICCs/IPs will be relocated without their free and prior informed
consent, nor through any means other than eminent domain. Where relocation is considered necessary
as an exceptional measure, such relocation shall take place only with the free and prior informed consent
of the ICCs/IPs concerned and whenever possible. They are also being neglected by the government even
though they protested once and came down from the mountain just to let the people hear their complain.
Contained in SECTION 2 that the State shall recognize, respect and protect the rights of ICCs/IPs to
preserve and develop their cultures, traditions and institutions. It shall consider these rights in the
formulation of national laws and policies but with this propose project of the government how can they
preserve their culture wherein they’re going to remove them to their natural habitat where they naturally
belong. Without even taking the considerations of this is a violation of their rights.
 References

https://www.rappler.com/nation/dumagat-remontados-begin-march-protest-kaliwa-dam-construction/

https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1997/10/29/republic-act-no-8371/