Today, the NCIP advocacy continues to progress in attaining a resilient, responsive, and relevant Indigenous Cultural Communities through the conduct of the first annual Inter-Agency Ancestral Domain visitation held at Brgy. Poblacion, Ambaguio, Nueva Vizcaya. Said activity was participated by the Elders and Leaders of the Ayangan and Kalanguya ICCs/IPs along with various government line agencies such as NICA, DOLE, DTI, DENR, Local Government Unit, Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representatives (IPMR) and the NCIP spearheaded by Commissioner Simplicia P. Hadaga and Nueva Vizcaya team.
The activity creates a significant avenue for the partner agencies to present their existing initiatives and programs relevant to the IP communities which includes the 11 Building Blocks, and likewise a learning space to discuss and document the burning issues.
In her brief message, Commissioner Hagada highlights the spirit of collaboration among the AD owners and government agencies in achieving a holistic development for Indigenous People communities.
Essentially, the pressing issues which were properly addressed by the concerned agencies were capped off in three major parts such as; a) projects that are subject to Free and Prior Informed Consent (FPIC) process, b) enhancement of the Local Guidelines of the Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative (IPMR), c) selling and buying of lands, and d) equal access to basic services such as concreting of farm to market road and bridges, irrigation for gardening production, employment and livelihood opportunity, and other agricultural development projects.
With this, Comm. Hagada emphasized the need to reinforce the implementation of the Free and Prior Informed Consent process to ensure the rights and mutual benefits of the AD owners and investors alike. In addition, Atty. Roderick S. Iquin, OIC-Provincial Officer of Nueva Vizcaya informed the community that there will be a progressive dialogue since the provincial office intends to convene all the concerned government agencies to discuss and lobby the consolidated burning issues once all the series AD visitations were undertaken.
