Feb 7: The 4th Central Luzon Inter-Agency Visitation to the Ayta ICCs/IPs under CADT No. 073, 006, 205, 12, & 10 in the town of Botolan, Zambales. Specifically at Sitio Casares, Barangay Poonbato Eastern, Botolan, Zambales, together with the National & Local Government Agencies representatives.

5 ADs of Botolan, Zambales:

1. Villar, Burgos, Moraza & Belbel under CADT No. RO3-BOT-0708-073.

2. Malomboy under Petition No.RO3-ZAM-10-AD

3. Bucao & Calibungan under Petition No. RO3-ZAM-12-AD

4. Palis, Maguisguis, Nacolcol & Cabatuan under Petition No. RIII-ZAM-006-AD

5. Poonbato & Owaog under CADT No. RO3-BOT-0216-205

Present were the Governor representative and Mayor Representative together with other Local Officials: Provincial IPMR, City IPMRs, Municipal IPMRs, Tribal Elders/Leaders & IP Youth plus Barangay Officials.

The following Major Burning Issues and concerns from the 5 ADs were discussed with identified ways forward:

1.Bukidnon Greenfields Agricultural Development Corporation conflict with the ICC of Sitio Guzman, Barangay Burgos, Botolan, Zambales.

a. Bukidnon Greenfields Agricultural Development Corporation land conflict with the ICCs/IPs in Barangay Burgos. Where the Regional and Field Office presented the validation report and reported that the area of the Bukidnon Corporation has already been segregated from the AD and has been registered with the LRA hence it is not part of the CADT;

b. Schedule a meeting and present the result of the recently conducted projection of the property of Bukidnon Greenfields Agricultural Development Corporation to the concerned IP community;

2. Land conflict among the IPs within the ancestral domain of PAMANACA AD and Poonbato AD.

a. Land conflict between the titled property owners and the affected IPs (group of Elsa Novo) at Poonbato;

b. Tax Declaration are not considered as Land titles. Original Titles issued by LRA are valid but will undergo validation by NCIP;

c. No FPIC, No projects inside the ADs. Notice of show cause orders, and cease and deceased orders will already issued by RD Calde to the projects inside that did not undergo the FPIC process;

d. According to Chair Capuyan, “Kasuhan ang mga katutubo na nagbebenta at bumibili ng lupaing ninuno;

e. All expired SIFMA must undergo the FPIC process before renewal by DENR or it will be reverted to the IP community;

f. NCIP RO did not receive CP application from Ayala Corporation;

3. Titled properties within the claimed AD of Bucao and Calibungan.

For the NCIP to validate the Titles.

4. On other issues the NCIP Chairperson instructed the following:

a. Driver’s License for the qualified IP individuals should coordinate with the LTO who should be invited in the succeeding meetings;

b. Registration of live births to be coordinated with the PSA.

5. The NCIP PO to coordinate with the LGU Zambales for the conduct of selection of IPMR.

a. For the Solar Panels to be installed inside ADs to be undergo FPIC process;

b. Creation of email and bank accounts of all the ADs.

Further, the Chairperson NCIP emphasized that “In every challenges that the community faces, they should remain united through their customary laws & practices. There are no problems that cannot be resolved under their customary laws.”