UNFOUNDED, MALICIOUS – NIA: No rights, environmental breaches in Jalaur Dam project

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor 

The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) has defended the Jalaur River Multi-Purpose Project Stage II (JRMP II), asserting that no human rights or environmental policies have been violated throughout its implementation.

JRMP II spokesperson Steve Cordero said NIA remains confident that the Export-Import Bank of Korea (KEXIM), the project’s main funder, can address the complaints filed against it.

He emphasized that strict monitoring and compliance with both Philippine and international laws have been observed since the project’s inception.

“The bank was not lax when it came to monitoring the project,” Cordero said.

“We are confident that even if there’s a case filed against KEXIM, it will be able to address these concerns head-on.”

On Aug. 26, two 16-page complaints were filed by the Tumandok Indigenous People of Panay, the Jalaur River for the People’s Movement (JRPM), and Korean civil society group Transnational Corporations Watch.

The first complaint, lodged by the Tumandok and JRPM, was submitted to KEXIM’s Human Rights Management Committee.

It alleged violations of KEXIM’s own safeguard policies and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) guidelines in funding JRMP II.

The second complaint, filed by all three groups, was brought before Korea’s National Contact Point (NCP), accusing South Korean contractor Daewoo Engineering and Construction Co. Ltd. of breaching OECD corporate responsibility guidelines.

Cordero said KEXIM and its Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF) have deployed environmental and social safeguard experts since 2014, conducting quarterly site visits and virtual inspections during the COVID-19 pandemic.

He noted that JRMP II underwent legal review by the Office of the Government Corporate Counsel and consistently met requirements under both Philippine and international law.

“There were environmental and social safeguards consultants involved throughout the duration of the loan,” he said.

Cordero added that independent multi-stakeholder monitoring teams also conducted quarterly reviews, none of which yielded major unresolved findings.

He noted that the JRPM was invited to engage in dialogues with EDCF in 2018 and 2019 but declined, opting instead for street protests.

“We are compliant with both local and international environmental and social laws,” he said.

Cordero also disputed claims of forced displacement, stating that 32 out of 45 directly affected Indigenous People (IP) families have relocated to a designated resettlement site, which is now 98% complete.

The remaining families chose self-relocation through house-to-cash compensation.

The complaints also cited the Dec. 30, 2020, killings of nine Tumandok leaders in Capiz and Iloilo during a joint police and military operation.

Human rights groups described the incident as a massacre of unarmed activists opposing the dam.

Sixteen others were arrested and detained on charges activists claim were fabricated.

JRPM coordinator John Ian Alenciaga said the killings strengthened their case, especially after the Korean NCP rejected a previous 2018 complaint on the grounds that the project was classified as non-commercial and outside the scope of OECD guidelines.

Cordero, however, denied any link between the incident and the project.

He emphasized that the operation was carried out solely by state forces and had no involvement from NIA or JRMP II officials.

“There’s no relation at all to any NIA projects or activities,” he said.

“Those who were killed are not project-affected families or stakeholders of JRMP II. They are not bona fide residents of barangays covered by the project,” he added.

The complaints also seek to halt the project’s functionalization, warning of potential flood risks.

Cordero countered that stopping JRMP II would deprive farmers and Iloilo City residents of crucial benefits, including irrigation, water supply, flood mitigation, and hydroelectric power.

“Are we going to deprive these people of the benefits of the project because of unfounded claims from people who are not only malicious with their complaints, but possibly misinformed or misguided?” he said.

“If we talk about human rights, it’s not only the IP communities.

We must also consider the general welfare of the residents of Iloilo, which should weigh more,” he added.