IDARAD2025 Feature: Cordillera Rivers Call for Justice: Will You Stand With Us?
By Astrid Bolinget
March 14, 2025
I am a child of the Cordillera, where rivers are more than streams of water. They are the lifeblood of our land, the rhythm of our existence. For centuries, they have nourished our rice fields, carried our prayers in their ripples, and preserved the stories of our ancestors. But today, these rivers—our rivers—are being dammed, their flows silenced, their souls put at risk. If the rivers die, a part of us dies with them.
This is why we rise. This is why we fight. And this is why the International Day of Action for Rivers and Against Dams, observed every March 14, holds deep meaning for us Cordillerans.
In the Cordillera, protecting our rivers is not just about water—it is about survival. The Chico River, a vital artery of our land, once faced destruction under the dictatorship of Ferdinand E. Marcos. The government sought to submerge our homes for hydropower, disregarding indigenous lives, culture, and rights. But our ancestors, led by elders like Macli-ing Dulag, resisted.
Yet the threats persist. Large dam projects, disguised as progress, continue to loom. We are told these structures bring economic growth, but what kind of development uproots indigenous peoples, erases traditions, and steals the lands that define us?
False promises
Large dams are often presented as solutions for electricity, irrigation, and water supply. But their costs are far greater.
They bring widespread devastation, flooding vast areas and displacing entire communities while submerging sacred sites, burial grounds, and farmlands. As people are uprooted, their cultural heritage—rituals, songs, and stories deeply tied to the rivers—begins to fade, eroding identities passed down for generations.
The destruction extends beyond human lives, wiping out entire ecosystems and disrupting the delicate balance of biodiversity. Promises of economic benefits rarely reach indigenous peoples, who instead face inadequate compensation, the loss of traditional livelihoods, and deepening marginalization.
Worse, these projects are often imposed without proper Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC), violating Indigenous rights. Those who resist face harassment, imprisonment, or even death, while corporations and urban elites continue to profit at the expense of displaced communities and a vanishing way of life.
Our call
On this International Day of Action for Rivers and Against Dams, we in the Cordillera reaffirm our commitment to defending our waters. This is not just our fight—it is a fight for every community that has ever drawn life from a river.
You can stand with us by amplifying our voices—share our stories and raise awareness about the struggles indigenous peoples face on the front lines of environmental justice.
Support our movement by joining efforts that advocate for free-flowing rivers and Indigenous land rights. Challenge the false narratives of development by questioning who truly benefits from large-scale dam projects and demanding sustainable, community-centered alternatives.
Most importantly, honor the rivers by actively participating in campaigns that protect our waters and ensure they continue to flow freely for future generations.
In the heart of the Cordillera, we say: “Nu awan danum, awan ti biag.” Without water, there is no life.
Our rivers are not just natural resources—they are the keepers of our history, the soul of our identity, and the hope of our future.
As we mark the International Day of Action for Rivers and Against Dams, let us remember: every struggle for a free-flowing river is a fight for justice and the right to exist. The rivers are calling. Will you answer?