MANILA, Philippines – For more than a week, Lucy Astoveza has been walking around 20 kilometers a day. She joined 300 Dumagat-Remontado indigenous people in their march from General Nakar, Quezon to Malacañang in Manila.
She wore slippers throughout the march, sometimes even walking barefoot when it rained. But her motivation exceeds the pain and blisters on her feet. Her family and community’s future depends on the success of their protest.On Wednesday, February 22, their contingent finally arrived in Metro Manila. In front of Ateneo de Manila University in Quezon City, Astoveza gave an impassioned plea in front of farmers, fisherfolk, media, church workers, and other citizens.
However, its construction will displace some indigenous communities in Quezon and Rizal, and would impact areas in thealso called Philippines’ last great rainforest and Luzon’s buffer against strong typhoons. “Wala po saking nagpilit na sumama rito dahil kusang loob po ang aking pagpunta at alang-alang sa aking mga susunod na henerasyon, sa aking mga apo, at sa Sierra Madre,”Tuwing naglalakad po kami, kung maiisip ko ang gagawin sa amin at mangyayari sa amin…halos ako po ay umiiyak sa daan dahil pakiramdam ko pasan ko ang Sierra MadreDespite occasionally heavy rain and the long walk, the representatives of the Dumagat-Remontados are hopeful that their march will duplicate what they believe is their...
The MWSS maintains that Kaliwa Dam is the best solution to Metro Manila’s water shortage, after the Laiban Dam project was set aside years ago. Ayson admitted that the construction of the dam will cause flooding, “but this flooding that will be caused by the dam will be controlled and checked.”Acknowledging the social and environmental costs of the project, the MWSS paid a P160-million disturbance fee to two indigenous people groups. Ayson said they will help these groups as they spend P80 million for “community development programs.”