MAKI-AGOS:
Kaliwa River and Mt. Daraitan Trek
May 4 and 5, 2019

Advocating Indigenous Peoples Rights, Demanding People’s Right to Water

Some facts on the Kaliwa Dam

Hiding behind the curtain of a manufactured water crisis affecting the service areas of Manila Water the government offered as solution the building of Kaliwa Dam a project under Duterte’s Build, Build, Build program.

Dumagat people as sacrificial lambs

Exploiting the vulnerability of Metro Manila residents who are justly demanding accessible and efficient water services,” the Kaliwa dam is being fast-tracked offering up the Dumagat people and their lands like “sacrificial lambs” toward resolving this dubious crisis.

The dam will submerge thousands of hectares of ancestral territory. It will destroy ancestor’s burial grounds, sacred sites, land, water and source of livelihood. It is estimated to displace at least 20,000 peasants, Dumagat and Remontado in Rizal and Quezon.

Damaging the Sierra Madre Ranges

The dam is set to be built inside the the Sierra Madre Mountaing Ranges between the towns of Infanta and General Nakar in Quezon province and in Tanay in Rizal province. It will not only destroy the rich biodiversity and ecosystem of Sierra Madre it will submerge and finally destroy thousands of hectares of forests lands considred as wildlife habitat. It also stands as natural shield from typhoons and other natural calamities, its destruction is a threat to the lives of hundred thousands of non-indigenous residents in the low-lying areas. People will be more vulnerable to disastrous weather disturbances and climate change.

Worse, the dam is located on top of a fault line -- within a zone of two active tectonic plates -- its safety and security is problematic putting at risk more communities in the downstream villages and nearby towns in Metro Manila. Severe flooding may also happen as experienced of communities in Pangasinan and Benguet when the San Roque dam releases tons of water during heavy typhoons.

As a response, a number of individuals volunteered themselves to organize the event “MAKI-AGOs: Kaliwa River and Mt. Daraitan Trek” aiming to gather Environmentalists, Indigenous people advocates and Mountaineering groups and individuals from Metro Manila to see, feel and hear first-hand the possible impact of the dam construction to the lives of the Dumagat, the environment and Filipino people once the dam will be pushed through. The activity also aims to gather people to advocate indigenous people’s rights and to advocate people’s right to water and the environment.

What Activities:
• Camping, Trekking around Kaliwa River
• Discussion on Kaliwa dam Project
• Tree Planting (this is to provide an alternative option to resolve the ongoing water crisis (optional)
• Signature Campaign (to be submitted to the National/Local Government
• Community Engagement with the Dumagat Tribe
• School Supplies Distribution (we are encouraging participants if possible sponsored two children for school supplies (7 notebooks, 1 pad, 3pencils and 3 ballpen)

ITINERARY

Day 1
0400 – Meet Up Cubao Jollibee Farmers
0500 – 8:00 – Departure and Travel Barangay Daraitan
08:00 – 10:00 trek to Tinipak, Cablao and Qiuborosa
10:00 – 12:00 Briefing, Site Discussion for Kaliwa dam
12:00 – 13:00 Lunch and Community Integration
13:00 – 14:00 – Schools Supplies Distribution
14:00 – 16:00 – Trek Back to Tinapak
16:00 – 18:00 – RNR in Tinapak Cave, Rock Formation and Swimming
18:00 – 19:30 – Preparation and Dinner
19:30 – 21:00 – Cultural Night
21:00 – Sleeping Time

Day 2

03:00 – 04:00 – Wake up, Pack-up Breakfast / Break camp
04:00 – 06:00 – Trek to Mt. Daraitan Summit
06:00 – 08:00 Sunrise viewing
08:00 – 10:00 Back to Daraitan Barangay Hall
10:00 – 1100 travel to Mangahan and Walk to Laiban dam tunnel
11:00 – 1400 Rappelling, Lunch and Picture
14:00 – Travel back to Manila

Budget:

• PHP 1500 – Inclusive of Transportation, Guide fee, Registration fee in Daraitan and Tinipak and solidarity T-shirt
• PHP 300 – suggested budget for your own food. We suggest to bring your own food. Along the way there are available canteen were you can order food.

For interested parties and confirmation:

1. For confirmation of participation:
a. we request 50% downpayment deposited to our bank account listed below.

Bank account name: KALIPUNAN NG KATUTUBONG MAMAMAYAN NG PILIPINAS
(KAMP)
Branch: Bank of the Philippine Islands – Aurora Boulevard
Peso Account Number: 3153-1517-67

b. Take a photo of the deposit slip and send it through messenger – katribu alumni.
c. acknowledgement receipt will be issued and send to you through messenger
d. official receipt upon payment of the full registration fee three days before the event.
e. you can also pay in cash by dropping by our office at #879 EDSA, Brgy West Triangle,
Quezon City.

For Questions queries and confirmation-- Please Contact our coordinators: Rey Paulin – 09178169258 and Jeff Balistoy – 09214161437.

THINGS TO BRING
• Camping tent
• Bring a lot of water (At least 2 liters)
• Energy drink (Gatorade)
• Hand Gloves
• Cap
• Trek Pole
• Towel
• Shade
• Headlamp for Tinipak Cave and early trek going to Mt. Daraitan
• Packed lunch (Optional). You can buy foods at carinderia nearby
• Garbage Bag (Leave no trace)
• Extra clothes
• Cameras (Action cam, Phone, DSLR, etc.)

USEFUL TRAVEL TIPS

• Approximately 3.5 hours travel time from Cubao to Brgy Daraitan.
• You will spend approximately 10 hours hiking Mt. Daraitan back and forth including Tinipak River and cave side trip.
• Mt. Daraitan can be hiked 3-4 hours and another 4 hours descending.
• Pack light and bring enough water.
• Water sources are not available on Mt. Daraitan.
• Bring gloves or any hand protection gears.
• Bring snacks/food (Chocolates, jelly, nuts, and etc)
• There are shower rooms and toilets at the jump-off point.
• There are sari-sari store and carinderia at the jump-off point where you could have a breakfast or lunch.
• Best time to start hiking is 5:00 AM so you can witness the sea of clouds before the sunrise.
• The trail can be slippery.
• Better to bring your own trash bag for the disposal of waste properly.
• Practice LNT principle and do not ever attempt to touch stalactites and stalagmites inside the tinipak cave.
• You can either bring your own headlight or rent at the registration area.
• A headlight is required if you’re planning to visit Tinipak Cave.
• Make sure to abide all the given guidelines.
• There’s no ATM Machine in the area, so better to bring extra cash.
• Pray before hiking.

For Questions and queries
Please Contact
Rey Paulin – 09178169258
Alfie Haban -
Jeff Balistoy - 09214161437