Seoul: The South Korean government has announced the commencement of a mediation process to address the ongoing conflict between Daewoo Engineering and Construction (E and C) and Filipino indigenous and rights groups over a dam construction project in the Philippines, as reported by the industry ministry.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the decision to initiate mediation was made by the National Contact Point (NCP) for Responsible Business Conduct. This government organization, operating under the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources, is tasked with implementing OECD guidelines for multinational enterprises. The move follows a complaint lodged in September by the Tumandok Indigenous People of Panay and other activist groups. They accused the Filipino military and police forces of violating the rights of the Tumandok indigenous people in Western Visayas, the region where the dam is being constructed.

The groups further alleged that Daewoo E and C, the contractor for the dam project, failed to take adequate measures to identify and prevent these human rights violations or to remedy the situation. Daewoo E and C secured the project, commissioned by the Philippines' National Irrigation Administration, in September 2018.

The Korean NCP previously noted the necessity of facilitating dialogue between Daewoo E and C and the complaining groups to resolve the conflict. However, they opted for a mutual agreement between the parties, given that Daewoo E and C's involvement and responsibility appear limited, with the Filipino government leading the project.