Photos and captions

courtesy of

HUMABOL - KMP (Bohol)

HUMABOL to spearhead a Conference on Dams in the province after the not so productive dialog with NIA – Pilar

After the dialog with NIA – Pilar last November 5, 2007, HUMABOL conducted a consultation with its affected members and the members ALMABECAD (Alyansa sa Mag-uumang Benepisyaryo sa Capayas Dam), ALMABEPDA (Alyansa sa Mag-uumang Benepisyaryo sa Pilar  Dam), supposed beneficiaries of Talibon dam and other groups and came out with a planned to hold a conference about the dam problems.

The activity, People’s Conference on Dams in Bohol will be held at Ubay Cultural Center, Ubay Bohol on December 08, 2007. Governor Erico  Aumentado, Sangguniang Panlalawigan thru Vice Governor Julius Herrera, the 3 district congressmen, NIA superintendents or managers of Pilar, Ubay and NIA Provincial office, Provincial Agriculture, Bayan Muna Representative Teddy Casiño, Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas Representative, Concerned Japanese Groups on Japan ODA, concerned groups, lawyers and other sectors are to be invited on the said conference.

The said conference aims to resolve the problems brought about by dam projects especially on the farmers affected by the inefficiency and over-targeting of Malinao dam, the unresolved case of Talibon dam, the future and prospect of the expensive Bayongan dam, other un-operational and inefficient dams in the province. Huge foreign loans, lost of lands, corruptions, inefficiency, increased in cost of production and accumulation of debts to the farmers are among the dam issues.  It is also high time to learn lessons and assess the viability, feasibility and operation of dam projects as an irrigation service system for the farmers.

For reference:

Rubin Sobior

Chairman

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Engr. Galagala of NIA Pilar, (with microphone), another NIA personnel with Antonio Boniel of ALMABECAD (Alyansa sa Mag-uumang Benepisyaryo sa Capayas Dam)

HUMABOL Secretary General Danilo Olayvar and Chairman Ruben Sobior flanked Mr. Ramon Rudila of Caluwasan Dagohoy who was angrily sharing how NIA forcibly convinced him to land level his land and convert it to riceland. Before the project it is producing an average of 7,000 coconut fruits per 3 months and P60,000 worth of cassava annually. For ten years now, only cogon grass and other weeds occupy the land because of the failure of the promised water system and fertile soil is being scraped already

◄   Farmer Delegates affected by the dam projects during the dialog

◄ One of the billing paper on one of the land leveled land area in Caluwasan, Dagohoy. One of the provisions in the Memorandum of Agreement is that the farmers agreed to pay the said amount for ten years for every harvest and the debt will be annotated to the land title and to the tax declaration until paid. (the farmers therefore could not sell their lands, use their titles or tax declaration as collaterals for loans in case of emergencies. They have been also paying or being charged with taxes to their now unproductive lands for 10 years now)

 

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