Butuan tribal folk oppose water project

 BUTUAN CITY, Philippines – Tribal folk belonging to the Anticala Pianing Tribal Organization (APTO) has sought a temporary environmental protection order from the court to stop the P500-million bulk water project of the Butuan City Water District (BCWD) and private firm Taguibo Aquatech Solutions Corp.

The APTO members have been residing for decades in the villages of Anticala and Pianing, the main source of potable water supply of the BCWD. 

Under the bulk water supply project, a public-private partnership, Taguibo Aquatech will reconstruct the water supply system of BCWD by constructing dam or siltation ponds and modify and reconstruct its water treatment facilities after which the company will sell the bulk water supply to the BCWD per cubic meter.

The APTO and the Caraga Indigenous People’s Management and Development Corp. alleged in their seven-page complaint dated Sept. 11 that both the BCWD and Taguibo Aquatech failed to consult the tribal folk on the project, thus not complying with the free prior and informed consent, a requirement under the Indigenous People’s Rights Act.