Lawmaker blocks building of Torre de Banaue

Akbayan Rep. Barry Gutierrez on Tuesday delivered a privilege speech urging Congress to support the indigenous peoples (IP) of Banaue, Ifugao in their struggle to stop the construction of a seven-storey parking facility that threatens the cultural heritage and welfare of the community.

In a privileged speech delivered on Tuesday at the Plenary Hall of the House of Representatives, Gutierrez said the project “threatens to undermine the preservation and protection of their (IP) ethnic and cultural heritage.”