Prior consultation on Ruta al Sur with the Musu Waira Cabildo (Indigenous traditional authority): agreement-drafting and formalization sessions

Between 10 November and 18 December 2024, the community of the Cabildo Musu Waira Sacha Nucanchipa, in the township of Puerto Umbría (Villagarzón, Putumayo), took part with the Directorate of the National Prior Consultation Authority (DANCP) of the Ministry of the Interior and with the Ruta al Sur concessionaire in the stage of formulating agreements and formalizing the prior consultation on the urban crossing through Puerto Umbría of the Santana–Mocoa–Neiva road project. The consultation was conducted in compliance with the tutela ruling of the Administrative Court of Nariño (case no. 86001-33-33-002-2023-00459-01). The sessions with the Ministry were held on 10 November, 4 December and 18 December 2024 at the community's house of thought, with a harmonization led by the traditional authorities at the start of each working day, and were complemented by internal meetings between the community and the concessionaire and by a visit to the community's merchants on 17 December.

The community presented measures on self-government (internal regulations, Indigenous justice and Indigenous guard), education (revitalization of the Inga language), traditional medicine (expansion of the botanical garden and the community chagra), territory (agricultural production, expansion of the ancestral territory and protected areas), housing and good living, and spaces for marketing and for services for women. On 18 December the parties agreed on the commitments that the Ministry of the Interior formalized: an information activity every six months during construction to present the environmental management measures; sessions in the territory to receive CVs for hiring personnel from the area of influence, with the governor's endorsement; an information session with the merchants, accompanied by the cabildo board; and an agreed compensation of 700 million pesos, distributed among four components —self-government, education, territory and Suma Kausai (good living)— whose implementation is coordinated with the project works.

To monitor the agreements, a committee was formed comprising the community's authorities, the concessionaire, the DANCP and the municipal, departmental or national public institutions, as well as the environmental authority.