A group of Tagbanuas in Quezon, Palawan has asked the Provincial Board to step in on an apparent inter-tribal conflict arising from the apportioning of some P12 million in mining royalty shares to the indigenous communities from Berong Nickel Corporation.
In a letter addressed to Board Member Vicky De Guzman dated 17 May 2008, some of the tribal leaders claimed that some members of the Berong Aramaywan Tagbanua Association (Bata) have not received their share of the royalty.
BATA is composed of more than 1,000 IPs from Barangays. Berong and Aramaywan in Quezon, Palawan as is the recipient of the 1 percent mining royalty shares mandated by the new mining law.
The petitioner tribes claimed that after the group had received the P12 million in royalty shares from BNC, some of their members have been given only as little as P2,000 each.
They added that those who received the amount were also asked to sign for a project proposal. The complainants questioned the project proposal to be signed.
“Sana po ipamahagi nila ng maayos ang pera kasi po share ‘yan para sa mga Tagbanuang taga-Berong. Hindi naman iyan loan. Bakit may proposal at bakit P2, 000 lang samantalang P12 M ang share ng 2007,” the complainants expressed in their letter.
The group also stated that those who were against the mining operations were not given any amount, although they belong to BATA. Their children, accordingly, were not also accepted in the scholarship program of BNC.
“Masakit po sa amin dahil wala na nga po kaming nagawa tungkol sa mina, ito pa at tinatanggalan pa kami ng karapatan na makaparte sa share,” part of the letter stated.
They named Efepanio Marcelo, Micke Marcelo, Leah Marcelo, and a certain Mr. Dunmeli, all officers of BATA, and some of their relatives as the ones who manage the money.
The complainants said they were opposed to mining and did not endorse the operation of BNC when it was consulted to them.
They had already sent letters to other local officials to help them solve the dilemma in the royalty payment share. BATA also appealed to De Guzman to call for a meeting in the two barangays to discuss the matter.
“Nakikiusap po kami kay Board Member Vicky De Guzman na tulungan po kami bago nila maubos ang pera na share ng 2007,” the letter said.
jhelyn
The true natives of Palawan (the ones who had always been there from the beginning), should be the one that benefits from the resources of the land. But because of their lack of education and legal knowledge, they have become once again a means to a group of filipinos who wants access to their natural wealth but could care less about their welfare.
Their lands had been taken away from them either by intimidation or promises of a better future which always turn out to be just a passing gesture. They had been push more and more into the heart of the jungle to live in hopes that maybe they could make a living and survive there.
I think it’s sad that they forget who the true pioneers of these lands are. Instead of doing something beneficial for their sake, the greed takes over and leave the poor natives (tagbanuas and palawenos) to the own demise.
By: Beth on September 26, 2008
at 7:35 pm