Mamanwa tribe hopes people's tribunal can spur govt to act on Mainit Lake siltation

By AMITA O. LEGASPI,GMA News January 16, 2014 4:40pm

After several years of government inaction on the siltation of Mainit Lake in Agusan del Norte – blamed for destructive floods around the area – the Mamanwa tribe now pins its hope on a people's tribunal to pressure the government to address the problem.

For the Mamanwa, the Asian People's Land Rights Tribunal, which was set to hear their grievances for Jan. 16, is the answer to their complaints that seemed to fall on deaf ears of concerned government agencies.

The Mamanwas are among the several indigenous communities living around Mainit Lake affected by recent floods.

Pastor Randy Catarman, elder leader of Mamanwa, said the recent floods is due to siltation, which he said, is caused by the mining exploration of Mindoro Resources Limited (MRL) at Sitio Dinarawan and Barangay Bunga in Jabonga in Agusan del Norte.

“Dati kahit isa hanggang dalawang linggo ng ulan, balewala lang. Ngayon kahit isang araw lang, baha na. Umaabot na sa ibang bahay. Ngayon, halos 80 porsyento na ang baha. Aabutin ng isang buwan bago bumaba yun dahil barado na yung labasan ng tubig,” he told GMA News Online Wednesday. (continue)