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地元住民から日本政府への 「サンロケダムの操業と灌漑プロジェクトに関するレター」 |
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2002年11月26日
Tignay dagiti Mannalon a Mangwayawaya iti Agno (TIMMAWA)
C/0 Aglipay Central Theological Seminary (ACTS)
Nancamaliran West, Urdaneta City
サンロケダムの操業 および
灌漑プロジェクトに関するレター
Ms. Yoriko KAWAGUCHI
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Mr. Masajuro SHIOKAWA
Minister of Finance
Mr. Takeo HIRANUMA
Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry
Mr. Kyosuke SHINOZAWA
President - Japan Bank for International Cooperation
Dear Madam and Sir,
TIMMAWA wish to inform you on our concerns on the San Roque Dam Project and its irrigation component. TIMMAWA is the alliance of farmers along the Agno River of both the upstream and the downstream of the San Roque Dam Project who are affected by the San Roque dam project. It is working closely with the Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA).
In spite of official appeals, dialogues, and petition letters by affected farmers of Pangasinan on the just and proper compensation of those adversely affected by the construction of the dam, there are still serious problems and outstanding issues up to the present. While the National Power Corporation (NPC) has done compensation to land owners and farmers in terms of land payment and crop payment, several farmers still remain not properly compensated up to this day. Further, livelihood assistance has not been sufficient, which you could notably find in the situation of resettled families at the Camanggaan Resettlement site. The promise to them to have a better life is definitely as empty as their stomach.
Likewise, the economically displaced goldpanners have been demanding proper and immediate monetary compensation for the loss of their livelihood source as goldpanners since the start of the construction in 1998. This is in addition to the demand for sustainable source of income such as regular employment or for agricultural land for livelihood. These just demands have never been addressed by the National Power Corporation as its obligation so far. The NPC also failed to inform us that, instead of the NPC, the Presidential Management Staff (PMS) had already succeeded its responsibility for the issue of goldpanners until the dialogue with the JBIC environmental mission and the NPC on November 23. We, as legitimate stakeholder, strongly demand appropriate consultations with the PMS to discuss our concerns and demands with.
In the light of our concerns mentioned above, we believe that the NPC has committed serious violations to the Resettlement Action Plan, and has not fulfilled its obligations to those adversely affected by this project. Further, violence is already taking place such as the shooting of farmers who were trying to make a living from getting scraps in the dam site. We therefore request the JBIC to actively intervene to correct this situation and conduct an independent investigation on the compensation issues, livelihood concerns and human rights violation of affected farmers. There should also be a public disclosure on all payments and livelihood projects made by NPC to countercheck its accuracy of truthfulness. For instance, according to farmers of San Nicolas some listed projects of NPC were not actually implemented or not properly implemented for the target beneficiaries.
We also strongly demand that the dam project should not operate and the remaining fund by the JBIC should not be disbursed. The goldpanners to be restored their livelihood sources have suffered for already several years without due compensation, and they remain desperate to have sustainable livelihood sources which the NPC refuse and cannot provide. NPC has been given enough time to address these concerns and the goldpanners have already suffered for so long. Further, the fact that the operation of the dam by SRPC is more costly for the Philippine government and the people than paying off SRPC with all its expenses as manifested in the government review of Independent Power Producers, it is better then to rectify the situation, rather than operate the dam which will also additionally cause more adverse environmental, social and economic costs.
While we also support an irrigation project for Pangasinan, we would also like to strongly register our position that the irrigation component of the San Roque dam is not the appropriate solution to the irrigation needs of the people of Pangasinan. Any Irrigation plan that will obtain its water from the San Roque Dam is un-acceptable for TIMMAWA.
One of our main concerns is the sediment build-up and siltation of the irrigation canals. The heavy sedimentation of existing irrigation facilities is mainly attributed to the heavy runoff of sediments coming from the upper basin of Agno. NIA conservatively approximates that the sediments carried by Agno from the uplands is 5.5 million cubic meters a year coming from erosion and mine tailings from mining activities. The San Roque dam will catch all of these sediments including toxic silt from mine runoff and tailings containing gold, copper, zinc, lead, nickel, iron, manganese cadmium, selenium, molybdenum, arsenic, mercury and potassium cyanide.
Based on experiences with Binga and Ambuklao dams that are already heavily silted, they have to release water even during the mildest of rain. This causes almost all of Pangasinan to be submerged in water. In addition, it washes away and cover the farms with the silt it carries rendering it useless for future farming. Farmers are mostly concern if the irrigation project will also be the SRD's flood control component.
The contamination of water that will flow through the irrigation canals with toxic chemicals is of another concern. Contaminated water will definitely have an effect on the productivity of the land and the quality and quantity of rice production. Moreover, people do not only use water from the canals for irrigation. They also use it for other purpose such as doing the laundry, bathing, washing the dishes and sometimes even cooking. Therefore, the safety of the water that will flow through the irrigation canals is of much importance.
The trapping of sediments also includes entrapment of vital soil nutrients. With this situation, farmers have no other choice but to increase their use of synthetic fertilizers to at least maintain their current production.
The NIA proposal also entails massive land destruction for the construction of new irrigation canals. New main canals will take up an approximate 531.28 ha of land. This will lead to considerable displacement of families from their source of livelihood. This is especially true for tenants and agricultural laborers who may not be properly compensated.
Compensation of farmlands and other properties is another problem. How can the project assure the people of a just and problem-free compensation that will allow affected families and communities to live the same way as before the project if not better? People are now wary about any compensation packages because of the failure of the SRMDP's and other previous projects's to rightly and justly compensate affected communities and families.
We have already informed the National Irrigation Administration and some officials of the JBIC on our position and concerns on the irrigation project for Pangasinan. The NIA has agreed to change the irrigation plan which is independent from the operation of the dam and has expressed our cooperation in finding the best solution.
While there is a need for irrigation project for the people of Pangasinan which has been strongly endorsed by the Pangasinan Irrigators Association and some Government Officials, it does not mean that there is already a clear social acceptability of the particular irrigation plan made by NIA. On the one hand, several farmers have already raised their concerns over the potential economic dislocation, potential environmental damages, potential graft and corruption, and community conflicts. It is then imperative for affected farmers to know and be consulted on the actual design, scope and details of any irrigation project, and that they should be involve in the whole process and stages of the project planning before any endorsement of the irrigation plan by affected communities becomes a legitimate claim of public acceptability.
TIMMAWA would also like to inform JBIC regarding our position on foreign loans. The Philippine economy is debt-driven economy, channeling more than 50% of its annual national budget into foreign debt payments amounting presently at more than 60 billion dollars (US). The loans from the JBIC to the aforementioned irrigation project will be surely an additional burden to the Filipino people. TIMMAWA is presently calling that the national budget should be rechanneled into the sector of agriculture and rural development, instead of prioritizing on foreign debt servicing and country's military budget. We would appreciate if the JBIC takes this situation into account since we doubt that another foreign loan towards this kind of project leads us to the actual development.
Another important point that we need to raise is the heightened human rights violation in the communities affected by the dam project and proposed irrigation project. Up to this date, members and leaders of TIMMAWA have been harassed by some government agents based in the area that want the project to push through. TIMMAWA leaders are now afraid to talk and voice their position on these projects. Therefore, immediate and proper investigation on this kind of harassment must be required since these incidents could be a big incertitude on the outcome of the consultations in the project-affected areas.
With the above-mentioned, may we request for sufficient time and process to find the most appropriate design for the irrigation plan. We believe this process will have to involve the affected farmers in planning the project and environmental and technical studies. It has been a lesson from the San Roque Dam Project that these are requisites for gaining public acceptability.
Further, we would like to officially inform Japanese Government and the JBIC of our concerns as a legitimate stakeholder to this kind of project as enumerated below:
1. Any plan for the irrigation based on the actual design and scope should have the required ECC and EIS. If this becomes controversial, there should then be an independent investigation on the environmental impact of the project.
2. Public disclosure on the design and details of the project should be part of public consultations, including expected obligations of affected farmers, potential adverse impacts and other information that may concern affected farmers.
3. Any agreements and contract entered into for this project should be made public. Affected communities should be informed on the terms, contents of agreements and contracts that may concern them.
4. Public consultation with all affected communities. This should not be limited to local government officials but should involve majority of affected farmers in all affected municipalities. An independent process for decision making of affected farmers must be recognized and upheld.
5. Strong public acceptance by affected communities. This should be secured with the concerns mentioned above addressed and in the sound society where the affected people can voice out their concerns as stakeholder.
We believe the conditions we have mentioned are valid, legitimate and constructive contributions to ensure that any irrigation plan for Pangasinan will be the most appropriate in terms of meeting basic standards on environmental protection, recognition of the rights of affected farmers, and providing direct benefits to those in need. After all, the loan for this project will be shouldered by the Filipino people so it is important to ensure that it will not be again a white elephant or another "development project" that cannot deliver its claim of benefits.
Again, we would like to emphasize and reiterate that we are against the operation of the San Roque Dam because of the danger of flooding which might cause sever damage to the people of Pangasian. Any disaster and loss of lives in the province brought about by malfunction and faulty construction of the dam would leave not only the SRPC/NPC accountable to the affected people but also funding institutions, for we believe that they also have their duty to monitor every project they fund.
We remain committed in finding the best and most appropriate irrigation project for the people of Pangasinan based on the above requirements. We hope you are with us in ensuring any irrigation plan to be environmentally, technically, socially and economically sound and beneficial for it to become socially acceptable. We then hope you will consider our views and conditions. We await for your favorable response and action.
Respectfully,
Jose Doton
Chairperson
TIMMAWA
noted by:
Ms. Joan Carling
Chairperson
Cordillera Peoples Alliance
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