Lawmakers on Tuesday questioned the National Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP) for pushing through with the negotiations on the controversial Kaliwa Dam project even as the affected indigenous communities allegedly have not given their consent to continue with the proceedings.

At the hearing of the House Committee on Indigenous Cultural Communities and Indigenous Peoples, Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate slammed the NCIP for proceeding with the negotiations for the memorandum of agreement without the approval of the affected indigenous peoples (IPs), particularly in Rizal and Quezon provinces.