BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya (PIA) - - The National Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP) and the FCF Minerals Corporation in Quezon town have assured the protection and welfare of Indigenous Peoples (IPs) who were allegedly displaced by the mine firm's operation. 

Atty. Roderick Iquin, NCIP provincial chief, said this was agreed upon during the recent ocular inspection of NCIP Commissioner Simplicia Hagada in barangay Runruno and a meeting with FCF Minerals Corporation headed by Country Manager James Carmichael.

“The visit of Commissioner Hagada was prompted by her desire to uncover the real story about the alleged discrimination and oppression committed against the Indigenous Peoples/ Indigenous Cultural Communities (IPs/ICCs) in Sitio Bit-ang, Brgy. Runruno, ” he said.

Iquin said the commissioner has been moved recently by online news reports and wanted to validate and investigate the alleged discrimination acts by the mining company that holds a Financial and Technical Assistance Agreement (FTAA) in barangay Runruno.

He said Commissioner Hagada in a meeting with the mine firm officials raised the alleged non-payment of compensation to the IPs who were allegedly displaced by the mine firm’s operations.

“Our Commissioner emphasized the need to observe the provisions of the IPRA for the recognition, protection and promotion of the rights of IPs/ICCs and assured that the agency will always be on guard to discrimination committed against the IPs/ICCs like employment opportunities, social development programs and other activities geared towards their welfare,” Iquin said.

He said the Commissioner also assured the FCF Minerals Corporation management that she will not tolerate “mischievous or deceitful” behavior by some members of the IPs and ICCs in the area.

Iquin said officials of the FCF Minerals Corporation on the other hand, bared that the company continues to work on remedies for the remaining occupants to leave and relocate outside the mining area to avoid the impending risk posed by the area as highly susceptible geohazard zone as declared by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) - Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB).

“We were briefed by the FCF officials that there are 203 individuals who were already compensated by the company since they started the assessment of properties of the affected IPs,” he said.

Iquin said the mine firm assured Commissioner Hagada who appealed for the company to continue with their property negotiations and settlement with the 16 remaining occupants.

Iquin said the Land Acquisition Compensation of the affected IPs started in 1996 where a total of 185.5 hectares located within the mining area mostly at Sitio Bit-ang were compensated by Base Metals Mineral Resources Corporation, the predecessor of FCF Corporation.

Iquin said they were told by the occupants that they are willing to leave the area but they are not in favor of the compensation offered by FCF.

“An occupant even told Commissioner Hagada that there is no truth on the allegation that the remaining occupants are being harassed by the members of the police,” he said.

Iquin, quoting James Carmichael, the FCF Minerals Corporation Country Manager, said security personnel were only verifying the identities of persons entering the access road within the mining area to prevent the sprouting of new settlers. (OTB/BME/PIA NVizcaya) Photos from Atty. Roderick Iquin FB Page