In 2022, ADB conducted consultations with project affected people (PAPs) as part of the 2009 Safeguard Policy Statement (SPS) Review and Update process. ADB worked with indigenous Dumagat affected by the Angat Water Transmission Improvement Project Tunnel 4 (AWTIP) to co-produce four video journals to generate lessons, including issues, on the implementation of the SPS.
Video journals were used as innovative development communication and consultation methodology to enable the active participation of indigenous peoples and provide inputs for the new SPS.
The stories focused on the Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) process that the Dumagat went through for AWTIP (Tunnel 4), and the continuing challenges in implementing agreements reached during the years-long negotiations.
The entire process of storymaking and storytelling to produce the video journals was participatory. The Dumagat chose their own storytellers and stories, and signed consent forms detailing the video journaling process and conditions of video production and public dissemination.
Once the video journals were edited, ADB conducted a screening consultation with the Dumagat to validate the accuracy of the stories and messages, and generate insights on the video journaling process prior to videos’ finalization and public showing.
The government agencies involved in the FPIC process--the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) and National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP)— supported the video journaling process.
This is the first of the four video journals.
Watch the other video journals:
Dumagat Stories 1: From Agreements to Implementation
Dumagat Stories 2: Beyond Informed Consent, Making the Process Work
Dumagat Stories 3: Youth Inherit the Journey to Empowerment
Transcript
Angat dam, Bulacan, Philippines
(Singing) We are indigenous peoples in southern Sierra Madre
Our community, sitio Dike, is on the upper portion of Angat Dam.
Our parents were born here.
This is where our ancestors were buried.
Let’s not allow anyone to claim our heritage.
Narrator
Angat dam. Built in 1967, it provides more than 90 percent of Metro Manila’s drinking water.
In 2013, the Angat Water Transmission Improvement Project started the process to rehabilitate tunnels and transmission systems from Umiray to Angat-Ipo to La Mesa Reservoir and Treatment Plants.
Transmission systems located in Ipo had to be rehabilitated to make them earthquake-resilient and structurally compliant.
But it was more than just about infrastructure.
The project covered less than one percent of the Dumagat’s 85,500-hectare Kabayunan ancestral domain.
But the Asian Development Bank’s safeguard processes recognized ancestral domain as a total environment, and the Dumagat’s physical and spiritual attachments to Angat’s land and waters.
This is more than just consulting with Dumagat IN the project area, but ALL Dumagat in the Kabayunan ancestral domain from Norzagaray to Dona Remedios Trinidad.
This is about project partners building consensus from 2013 to 2021 capped by the Dumagat’s Free, Prior and Informed consent.
These are stories from the point of view of indigenous peoples whose lives were affected for our safe water.
Beatriz Hamisola
IP Chieftain, Sitio Dyke, Manalo
When they built the reservoir, our ancestors who didn’t know better fled to the mountains.
They left their livelihood behind.
Our sacred burial grounds were submerged.
Nothing was said about building a reservoir.
2013-2019 Project consultations and the free, prior and informed consent process
Policies are in place to ensure that this will not happen again.
That history gave lessons on how to do better for future developments.
With the Dumagat, the Angat Water Transmission Improvement Project went through an intensive process to get their consent, and address the community’s needs.
We had our meetings here to discuss whether we will agree to the projects so we can benefit which our ancestors failed to do. From those meetings, this is the document we all signed which proves that we all agreed to our conditions and requests for the project of MWSS.
These are our conditions.
Narrator
Dumagat leaders signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage Systems and the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples.
The MOA affirmed the long process of securing the Dumagat’s Free, Prior and Informed Consent to implement the project.
The Dumagat successfully negotiated for structures and equipment for common use
such as kolong-kolong or tricycles, motorized boats, forest ranger salaries, ambulances, solar panels, and livelihood aid in the form of seeds, fingerlings and nets, and others.
MWSS provided P20 million to implement the MOA.
The amount was transferred to the IP Organization’s bank account.
The spirit of free prior and informed consent did not end with the MOA signing.
Implementing the MOA presented a new set of challenges.
ADB’s continuing engagement with the Dumagat produced these video journals.
They are the storytellers. These are their stories.
Nerissa Repoverbio
Chieftain, Sitio Maputi
I tried to get the ambulance earlier. What happened?
You know I also have to work. If we had funds then I can drive full time.
Remember when this broke down? I asked the IP Organization for funds, but it wasn’t enough.
This is the ambulance from MWSS that we use for hospital emergencies. But we don’t have a full-time driver and money for gas.
There was no allocation for health emergencies in the MOA. We decided to re-allocate the budget for forest rangers for health assistance.
Mario Cruz
Chieftain, Sitio Sapang Munti
Our of the conditions in our MOA was delivered by MWSS.
Our requests in the MOA didn’t arrive at the same time. There is a schedule (for our requests to be delivered).
As long as it’s in the MOA, and will be for the common good of the communities.
We have asked for electricity. They said we were too remote and our population is small.
Households that will not receive solar panels have issues with me since I listed the names of beneficiaries.
I chose the ones with no solar.
Our hopes continue. Even if our elders, our ancestors didn’t receive what they deserved. The next generation will change the conditions in our community.
Narrator
The stories don’t end here for all stakeholders.
The Dumagat have a long journey to assert and empower themselves, and improve their socio-economic condition.
ADB continues to engage with the Dumagat and the government to address the challenges in project implementation.
Mario Cruz
Come on! Our requests have seen the light. This is one of the conditions in our MOA. I will turn it on now. Let’s all applaud!
