Let Apayao-Abulog River Flow! Stop Pan Pacific Dams in Apayao!

The psalmist declared, “The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it, the world and all who live in it.” (Psalms 24:1) After each day of creation, “God saw that it was good.” And yet till today, “creation is groaning under human abuse, waiting for redemption and re-creation” (Romans 8:19-22). The destructive quest to grab wealth and power has become so systematically and unwaveringly present in the Philippines. Humanity and all living things are interconnected and this ensures sustainability and balance of the ecosystem. Hence, the devastation of an Indigenous’ ancestral domain is not simply the destruction of natural resources. It will also destroy biodiversity, culture, tradition and the natural flow of life.

The abuses against creation across the Philippines are disturbing. The land, air, rivers, lakes and ocean are being polluted, and the forests, the lungs of the earth, are laid to waste for commercial products. Deforestation causes soil erosion, floods, droughts, and the destruction of the habitats of animals.

The proposed two construction of two large hydropower dams namely the Gened1 (150 MW) and Gened2 (335MW) along the Apayao-Abulog river will impact negatively on the lives and livelihood of the Isnag, the indigenous people in Kabugao, Apayao. This is a project of San Miguel Corporation (SMC) by Pan Pacific Renewable Power Philippines Corporation (Pan Pacific). This construction would affect more than 20,000 Isnag Indigenous people. The Apayao-Abulog river is crucial for the Isnag -their survival and the continuation of their cultural identity.

The Isnag indigenous people are known as “River People.” Their livelihood is dependent on the river and their means of transportation. Their community is now in danger and the people are anxious about what the project would bear upon their way of life. They firmly affirm their collective stand to defend their right to their ancestral domain and to protect God’s creation.

The National Council of Churches in the Philippines affirms its commitment to preach and teach for the care of God’s creation. This concern for the environment is an integral part of our ministry.

We call on the faithful to continue to stand in defense of ancestral lands and right to self-determination of indigenous peoples. We express our solidarity with the Isnag Communities in their strong opposition against the proposed construction of dams.
We call on the Government to work for the interests of national minorities and to stop these projects. “Let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.” (Amos 5:24)

Signed:

30 September 2022

REV. FELIPE B. EHICAN, JR.
Chairperson

RT. REV. JOEL O. PORLARES
Vice – Chairperson

DR. GAY B. MANODON
Vice – Chairperson

MA. KAY CATHRINE F. ALMARIO
Vice- Chairperson

BISHOP REUEL NORMAN O. MARIGZA
General Secretary