Indigenous people have been successfully resisting construction of new dam for years
March 07 2023
3 minutes
For years, the indigenous people of the Sierra Madre mountains in the Philippines have been fighting against the construction of the 60-meter-high Kaliwa dam, which poses a threat to their habitat. Several 11.11.11-partners support and strengthen the protest. Successfully. Activism in the Philippines can still be punished with arrest or even death.
For three decades, the indigenous population of Dumagat-Remantado has been resisting various plans to build dams in their habitat. A biodiverse and legally protected area. Although policymakers sometimes dare to take liberties with this. It is mainly the indigenous population and environmental activists who repeatedly stand up for the preservation of this piece of natural beauty.
Stop Kaliwa Dam!
This also happened in 2012 when new plans were made for the construction of the 60-metre high Kaliwa dam to secure the water supply of the growing population in Metro Manila. With a package of loans from China and an impatient President Rodrigo Duterte, the threat to the local population soon became concrete.
But despite the repressive climate in the Philippines, the residents did not sit back and do nothing. In 2018, entered into a partnership with several national civil society organisations, including some 11.11.11partners, PMCJ, ATM and Freedom from Debt Coalition (FDC)Under the name 'Stop Kaliwa Dam Network' their resistance has now become even more widespread.
“Through our collaboration with PMCJ and others, we have made remarkable progress with the campaign, spoken to even more agencies, and the unity among the local population has remained surprisingly intact,” notes Pastor Pete, the spokesperson for Sierra Madre. The voice of the indigenous population is also now being highlighted even more, for example during hearings in parliament.
This is a fight for the climate, indigenous rights and environmental activists worldwide. We need to wake up now!
More than a local struggle
For years, the construction of the Kaliwa Dam has been held up like this. But despite problems with permits, the government did start building an access road to the dam. Although it is currently at a standstill, the indigenous population continues their struggleJust last month, the Stop Kaliwa Dam Network walked a nine-day march from their protected habitat to the presidential palace to protest the construction of the dam and other environmentally destructive projects.
However, activism is very dangerous in the current political climate in the Philippines. The government is keen to label anyone who resists as a communist guerrilla, and risks arrest or death. But this is more than a local struggle. As Pastor Pete testifies: “This is a fight for the climate, the rights of indigenous peoples and environmental activists worldwide. We need to wake up now! The most vulnerable citizens and communities are the first victims.”
You too can support the struggle of the indigenous people. Sign the petition against the Kaliwa Dam and help protect their habitat!
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Together with our partners in the Philippines, we support the courageous communities that defend their rights and the climate. With your support, we can stop this injustice.
