The Northern Dispatch Weekly

By LYN V. RAMO
www.nordis.net

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet — Provincial officials here found it unnecessary investigating the alleged lapses on the consent-taking exercise for the proposed geothermal project in Bokod after the proponent, Clean Rock Renewable Energy Resources, reportedly backed off as a result of the Bokod people’s rejection of the project.
Earlier, the provincial board supported the Ibaloy people’s petition asking for an investigation into the conduct of free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) process by National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), alleging that the indigenous peoples of Kabayan and Atok were not yet consulted.

At the board session Monday, Victor Wales, a member of the Council of Elders (CoL) of Shakilan ni Ikulos, the indigenous peoples’ organization (IPO) recognized by NCIP, announced they have issued their absolute rejection in a resolution they submitted in May. (more…)

By ARTHUR ALLAD-IW
www.nordis.net

BAGUIO CITY — Residents of the affected areas of the road projects at Loakan and Kennon roads, here, condemned the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) simultaneous projects which now cause heavy traffic.

In a Monday meeting of the city council here, DPWH Baguio City District Project Engineer Alfredo Bannagao Jr. agreed to cover the scraped road at the Poliwes part of Kennon Road with gravel to allow a two-lane passage in the area. The meeting was held due to public pressure clamoring an explanation for the scraped part of the Kennon Road which caused half of the road impassable especially when it rains. (more…)

BY LYN V. RAMO
www.nordis.net

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet — Indigenous peoples (IPs) of Kapangan in this province and Santol, La Union opposed the plan to divert the Amburayan River from Pudong, Kapangan to Alilem, Ilocos Sur to feed the Luzon hydroelectric power plant.

The said IPs expressed their opposition in a resolution the barangay council of Gadang, Kapangan passed on May 20, and subsequently adopted by both the Amburayan Ancestral Landowners Association (AALOAI) on May 28 and the barangay council of Sapdaan, Santol on May 30. (more…)

By ALDWIN QUITASOL, SHERRY MAE SOLEDAD
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CAGAYAN VALLEY — At around 12:00 midnight of June 11, some 20 to 30 heavily armed men in camouflaged pants, ski masks and bonnets barged into a resort house where members of peoples organizations and party list groups were conducting a planning workshop in the Masscoop Resort compound, in Masitsit, Sanchez Mira, Cagayan province.

One of the participants, Vincent Guzman was smoking by his room’s window when a man wearing a bonnet pointed an M-16 riffle at his face. Guzman awakened his roommates to raise alarm. (more…)

By LYN V. RAMO
www.nordis

BAGUIO CITY – While Mayor Reinaldo A. Bautista Jr. remains optimistic the BLISTT metropolitan setup for planning and governance is a sure-fire solution to the urban woes of this city, a Benguet mayor takes a wait-and-see stand.

Sablan Mayor Bony L. Tacio, in an interview, said he is yet to see the sincerity of the proponents in making the concept of a planning area like the Baguio-La Trinidad-Itogon-Sablan-Tuba-Tublay (BLISTT) work for all its constituents. (more…)

By WENDY ATUBAN
www.nordis.net

The Philippine Mental Health Association Baguio-Benguet Chapter Inc. (PMHABBCI) renewed its advocacy to promote mental health and prevent mental disorders on its 50th anniversary.
The local PMHABBCI is campaigning for a stress free Baguio through their programs. They say that stress poses a threat to mental health if not dealt with properly.

Doctor Ronald Bandonill, medico legal officer of PMHABBCI said people must “learn to cope with stress.” (more…)

By ARTHUR ALLAD-IW
www.nordis.net

BAGUIO CITY – The Cordillera Peopleas’ Alliance presented the enforced disappearance case of activist James Balao, 47, to the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues’ (UNPFII) in New York.

The forum assesses the implementation of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. (more…)

www.nordis.net

Taken on its face value, the explanation being dished out by the local district of the DPWH that they were just given 30 days to implement both projects otherwise the funds would revert back to the national coffers might be true.

But it taxes our credulity. Why have they not, for instance, pointed out to their bosses at the national office the consequences of the decision to close both roads simultaneously knowing fully well that these are major arteries for trade and commerce here in the city? (more…)

By ARTHUR ALLAD-IW
www.nordis.net

With sincerity, Candy Pangilinan appeared at the city council session last Monday to ask forgiveness for the remarks she uttered slighting the Igorots. She explained the context of her remarks. She was forgiven afterwards. What is noble by her action was the effort she put to personally deliver her apology to the people hurt by her ignorance.

What is embarassing was the proposal from a local official that required Candy to perform a cleansing ritual. The “Daw-es,” a cleansing ritual among the Kankanaey. Another politician said it can be done in a DOT activity in Baguio. However, personally, I have reservations. The proposal has led to confusion by introducing the application of rituals rather than the purpose, or the aim of cleansing. (more…)

By INNABUYOG-GABRIELA
www.nordis.net

SECOND OF TWO PARTS

Global warming and climate change and the inter-related impacts that they bring about have taken a heavy toll on the lives and livelihoods of rural and indigenous women. Rural and indigenous women engaging with small-scale agriculture, fishery and herding have been experiencing greater incidence of insect infestation, diminishing fish catch, devastation of crops caused by climatic events such as changing patterns of rainfall and drought, unpredictable cyclones and flooding.

Rural and indigenous women are also being affected more severely and are more at risk during all phases of natural disasters and extreme weather events due to existing gender discrimination, inequality and inhibiting gender roles which vary across class, caste, religion, ethnicity, culture, education, and other social economic factors. (more…)

By REV. LUNA DINGAYAN
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We believe the Church is one: Its total oneness is ever directed to a single goal of liberation and reconciliation

SECOND OF THREE PARTS

The ecumenical spirit is one of the things that characterize the twentieth century Filipino Christianity. There have been widespread efforts to unite as much as possible all churches into one body. This kind of spirit appears even in the pages of church constitutions and disciplines. Ecumenical services occur every now and then with the nagging belief of uniting Christians to a common purpose, to a common worship.

But it seems that the ecumenical dilemma still prevails. For even in the celebration of the Lord’s Supper that supposed to be the symbol of unity in the body of Christ, there are divisions. Some churches would not allow others to join them in their communion for the simple reason that they are not part of their confessions. But nevertheless, the ecumenical spirit is still alive and must be alive. (more…)

By ALDWIN QUITASOL
www.nordis.net

In a country well governed, poverty is something to be ashamed of. In a country badly governed, wealth is something to be ashamed of. — Confucius

On the first week of June, 293 workers, most of them regular employees of the Moog Controls Philippines, an American company designing and manufacturing aviation parts in the Baguio City Export Processing Zone (BCEPZ) were laid off. This, according to the company’s statement which was as usual distributed by the Department of Labor and Employment – Cordillera Administrative Region (DOLE-CAR), is due to the effect of the worldwide recession. (more…)

By PROF. JOSE MA. SISON
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On behalf of the International League of Peoples’ Struggle and in coordination with its Philippine Chapter, I convey the firmest solidarity with and support for the Filipino people and all the patriotic forces that are outraged by House Resolution 1109 and are determined to stop the fake constituent assembly of the congressional asses of the Arroyo regime.

The broad masses of the people have all the right to be indignant and exert every effort to thwart the “con-ass” scheme. The evil purpose of this machination is to perpetuate the Arroyo regime under the pretext of adopting a parliamentary system and make the most blatant anti-national and anti-democratic amendments to the 1987 constitution of the reactionary state. Anything goes once the “con-ass” fast break gets underway! (more…)

By LYN V. RAMO
www.nordis.net

BAGUIO CITY – The 21st Ad Congress at the Camp John Hay here is something to look forward to in November, as its organizers claim it will be the greenest gathering for the advertisement industry in the Philippines.

Not just its green logo, the 21st Ad Congress also has for its theme, “Perspectives: Ano sa tingin mo?” (Whatcha think?). “It takes into consideration the global economic crunch and challenges the industry to look at the situation from a multi-dimensional perspective,” saidMargot Torres, the 21st Philippine Ad Congress (PAC) chair. (more…)

By LYN V. RAMO
www.nordis.net

Comedienne Candy Pangilinan was overwhelmed by the decision of the city council that overturned the persona-non-grata (unwelcome) resolution it earlier passed against her.

Similarly, a lawyers’ group decided against filing a legal case. Another proposal to charge Candy of violating the city’s Gender Equality and Development Code, was also withdrawn by the proponent, Councilor Betty Lourdes Tabanda. (more…)